tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50317647883837297172024-02-19T07:34:30.847+00:00Crafty WeaverCrafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-4333213056812567282022-01-12T15:31:00.000+00:002022-01-12T15:31:09.138+00:00Keeping Busy<p> <span> <span> </span><span> </span>Wow! I hadn't realised it was such a long time since I'd posted!</span></p><p><span>For the last few months I have resorted to weaving with woollen yarn to keep me busy and feeling positive.</span></p><p><span>Uppingham yarns sell a colourful range of shetland woollen yarns and having started our daughter in law off with her first weaving project, before she, our son and two grandsons went to live in Australia, I was encouraged to weave with them.</span></p><p><span>I was going to weave lengths to make bags but, as shawls and 'tartan' clothing has become fashionable I decided to come up with a range shawls in interesting colour schemes.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMFR0Rfouuxn--BR5VQOQIVnTfyh6mIyoQ_RkWL7G7W4jcj61JhTxYsJn9M2l0hAtve6jDOEoeAzppF9RsfAkj1uQ1NiWJ_E5CmuY0tpFzx8pjSqEhwnHcjQ5FoDI86psaBEdyVvOvl3XdFm2juyRc-M-0BDz_blHmgmcYgrypzfnUzDi-SXOOMlxTBw=s1708" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1708" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMFR0Rfouuxn--BR5VQOQIVnTfyh6mIyoQ_RkWL7G7W4jcj61JhTxYsJn9M2l0hAtve6jDOEoeAzppF9RsfAkj1uQ1NiWJ_E5CmuY0tpFzx8pjSqEhwnHcjQ5FoDI86psaBEdyVvOvl3XdFm2juyRc-M-0BDz_blHmgmcYgrypzfnUzDi-SXOOMlxTBw=w320-h216" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhF_ntesT1SVwIEFisKGd6sBmCPi1seJT_33BSkH2e2sx5ZdWGWCcfVx6nkddUlkaOZVFjVvb4fjpkITHjTwOjDlbGFIBCuXHGgNRQuteOhOIjZQfIeW7MqB3TfPPp7DqftaKs0sq8C5rttYsdfWNHDkvHDgNYGcHyJnexvEMXFbew6TNxXPwJbZBGFA=s1748" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1165" data-original-width="1748" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhF_ntesT1SVwIEFisKGd6sBmCPi1seJT_33BSkH2e2sx5ZdWGWCcfVx6nkddUlkaOZVFjVvb4fjpkITHjTwOjDlbGFIBCuXHGgNRQuteOhOIjZQfIeW7MqB3TfPPp7DqftaKs0sq8C5rttYsdfWNHDkvHDgNYGcHyJnexvEMXFbew6TNxXPwJbZBGFA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPSBToTDoxqlj3NVR4vpc_w3Q1PmCSKyuYj81iYZ21WSXG7koE7MlpFG_iiJOWT4P5t7wgysHDNiDoihWqXGkwJ-rQu7YKS5xy2TQuVVEGizl2EzvHhH8aFdeDXUp3gExsfZ8mQB31ejiy9tStH07tamreeCHsDmy1C0_iMzt9yUKoMu3mbo-sHsWMtA=s1650" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8DxKELw3L9SP8WCXbEUp6yLaD9Bf6Dr54UflN3TKU4QmPf6-6rEE3F-rDrFFk-zHERslnndWcvVm7UMG-HsQ6ai-fxLKgIcnFOgzJslfTfG4TSK67bfBfDVnhK1DBdlmkZ2UeL4IsHzhwkPXP1SoDY7D4vbl7aHe7o18f3QqWMDzricYfHUhRDxH15A=s1692" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1114" data-original-width="1692" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8DxKELw3L9SP8WCXbEUp6yLaD9Bf6Dr54UflN3TKU4QmPf6-6rEE3F-rDrFFk-zHERslnndWcvVm7UMG-HsQ6ai-fxLKgIcnFOgzJslfTfG4TSK67bfBfDVnhK1DBdlmkZ2UeL4IsHzhwkPXP1SoDY7D4vbl7aHe7o18f3QqWMDzricYfHUhRDxH15A=w400-h264" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJJP66Gp03tnCQosA1Zbuevi1XM6vxYgk7whUria3qGhvoGiGQ4q4JHF4UN8325NgeAhs6YkhMV8vrs3ehmI7U_h6LzsGjzy7TPFMIl_-52O0nvRhh3qdxkOY9Orq6Xsf_HpzbuBc2j15LDB_aNfsxp8lneYbErJky1Df783qsSakm6vo4gcjeGgkT4Q=s1852" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1239" data-original-width="1852" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJJP66Gp03tnCQosA1Zbuevi1XM6vxYgk7whUria3qGhvoGiGQ4q4JHF4UN8325NgeAhs6YkhMV8vrs3ehmI7U_h6LzsGjzy7TPFMIl_-52O0nvRhh3qdxkOY9Orq6Xsf_HpzbuBc2j15LDB_aNfsxp8lneYbErJky1Df783qsSakm6vo4gcjeGgkT4Q=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span>At first I planned to weave only one shawl per warp but it takes some time to work out the warp design and set up the loom ready for weaving so I decided to plan two shawls per warp. These two shawls, in a russet colour scheme, were the first.</span><p></p><p><span>I was commissioned to weave one similar in 'Christmas' colours and I must admit to being a little concerned about this - red and green - but the finished shawl pleased the recipient and because the colours were quite subtle I was pleasantly surprised/happy with the result myself!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_o0JnNs_GcAh4NuPXdghTTn-PzqdCyiDNZ6VZIY9S7OG10yB79w-lA1IpuYYIvYRIqubRybvCYxKU1Ee9gFhHqTNhG2aUv1Pi1XvdxuLHZ_Cyw6a5Vy9FaOOFU6OolyWmfmo_njy7CfJA7sSVZsvWfpWJ9R8LQZGjE_tXqexgxTqTWYAh1qqguQVM9Q=s1816" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="1253" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_o0JnNs_GcAh4NuPXdghTTn-PzqdCyiDNZ6VZIY9S7OG10yB79w-lA1IpuYYIvYRIqubRybvCYxKU1Ee9gFhHqTNhG2aUv1Pi1XvdxuLHZ_Cyw6a5Vy9FaOOFU6OolyWmfmo_njy7CfJA7sSVZsvWfpWJ9R8LQZGjE_tXqexgxTqTWYAh1qqguQVM9Q=s320" width="221" /></a> My favourite so far! </div><br /><span><br /></span><p></p>Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-40957751512545351122022-01-12T15:19:00.000+00:002022-01-12T15:19:16.631+00:00Spinning yarn for a Weaving project<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQiNZiEUukuNizBXCVGWlG3CcNqqzdndwNvnvZnkPdnKMq4i4xvYsvS_1huYB-3qd0rVDusu-BU_kk6jsBuwpTZCPVjnMMcbNtB0QRvhnu6oeyHxrt4QKBNGT5w58tcdueQxfHoahF-qP/s1600/BROWN+TWILL.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQiNZiEUukuNizBXCVGWlG3CcNqqzdndwNvnvZnkPdnKMq4i4xvYsvS_1huYB-3qd0rVDusu-BU_kk6jsBuwpTZCPVjnMMcbNtB0QRvhnu6oeyHxrt4QKBNGT5w58tcdueQxfHoahF-qP/s1600/BROWN+TWILL.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">Bedfordshire Guild Ruby Celebration</span></span></a></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-PC1_GzdsBmbbo67uCFMgFfaF2LZHFfHvA9O4N8aUigKiPMsNyGbw6qzig0RmYMdI4cp9IjnBVN0UezD0VJDq6Ezf2xTe1ocDyK78MK9sg4KMsCg1YQMtxVVjHvNdgqlNZUnibmOLYKx/s1600/Shetland+check.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bedfordshire Guild WSD began in 1979 and this needed to be celebrated!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span> </span>I am spending more time spinning than weaving at the moment and have been for some months. I'm itching to get on weaving some fabric!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span> </span><span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_y-HAjxZH-WVb0XgrIt3QedWjV8H2ao7kyWa1PwiLucexrxCJK5qxthSW3wp0siGywirjEfoPDOkQAiYMy6VC37_xvNcod0eQ7k9rXX6tc-Yc5UtpJSrL4JMn1VKamJug9x30CiI11kbA/s1600/Ruby+Bobbin.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="1600" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_y-HAjxZH-WVb0XgrIt3QedWjV8H2ao7kyWa1PwiLucexrxCJK5qxthSW3wp0siGywirjEfoPDOkQAiYMy6VC37_xvNcod0eQ7k9rXX6tc-Yc5UtpJSrL4JMn1VKamJug9x30CiI11kbA/s320/Ruby+Bobbin.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScWadNHGZ2MJcrZChpvRNqDv_Qtwkq_HpFZFeUW4GZDigWMsvQMgKrQ7eVsnVdXdtMNfCsDiM4S6elWZKPDPLIsk1jSA9EPOCQrL8h15kUP0fnGHEzkLUJcbDiv4wJExG6WsG9KuJ2rRy/s1600/RUBY+project.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScWadNHGZ2MJcrZChpvRNqDv_Qtwkq_HpFZFeUW4GZDigWMsvQMgKrQ7eVsnVdXdtMNfCsDiM4S6elWZKPDPLIsk1jSA9EPOCQrL8h15kUP0fnGHEzkLUJcbDiv4wJExG6WsG9KuJ2rRy/s320/RUBY+project.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div> Those of us who spin admire the yarns and fibre blends produced by John Arbon and his team and he was only too happy to create a 'Ruby' colour blend in 80% Merino/20% silk fibre.</div><div>Most members ordered an amount between 100g and 1 kilo. Spinning it has taken some time and nearly all have completed their project.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I wanted to weave a length of fabric the spinning of my yarn kept me busy but very happy.</div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72Pwwy40rcv-CPoN3qXD7wJ84n8VS91nYbfGi2GtD67z_OPMRMZCeEF84A5QXAxW7p3OqI9qT43j-PmU6BEXlRXLcjajhUXpdZJQLFhr701tC8bE7IFTL6cT8eHF_HXeE9pXuN3OrNlmt/s1600/Ruby+skein.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1085" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72Pwwy40rcv-CPoN3qXD7wJ84n8VS91nYbfGi2GtD67z_OPMRMZCeEF84A5QXAxW7p3OqI9qT43j-PmU6BEXlRXLcjajhUXpdZJQLFhr701tC8bE7IFTL6cT8eHF_HXeE9pXuN3OrNlmt/s320/Ruby+skein.JPG" width="308" /></a></div> <br /><br /> Years ago, when I learned to spin and weave at college, I was determined that I would spin to weave a length of clothing fabric. Sadly, it has taken me some time to be brave enough to get on with this huge undertaking.<br /><br /> It has been said that it takes 7 spinners to supply a weaver and knowing, from experience, that preparing a warp, setting up my loom and weaving a 5 yard length would take a week I knew I would have to prepare myself for a 'long haul'. The plying of 100g (2 x 50 g) of yarn took all evening, approximately 4 hours!<br /><br />
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Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-15975039380213841192020-09-02T11:26:00.000+01:002020-09-02T11:26:49.507+01:00What a find!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Getting things in order!</span></u></b></div>
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Sorting and tidying craft materials and projects is always a chore but sometimes this can have a pleasing/surprising outcome.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQOLUOo5W7HGZyGYaHFZbOc4e2MyrvJP7b73ezlN6a8dbaHVJC9ivbFMa03U8nV1yIq359uBFTeJK-p3YjDr4XfpyGbD3VqGqhqm0Eld9x6Yd-A1qRtOU5DgVqtKV2gl4KJYK9Z3_2_V9/s1600/lavender+roving+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1050" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQOLUOo5W7HGZyGYaHFZbOc4e2MyrvJP7b73ezlN6a8dbaHVJC9ivbFMa03U8nV1yIq359uBFTeJK-p3YjDr4XfpyGbD3VqGqhqm0Eld9x6Yd-A1qRtOU5DgVqtKV2gl4KJYK9Z3_2_V9/s320/lavender+roving+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I bought the above fibre, 80% merino/20% silk at Fibre East one of my favourite suppliers, John Arbon. But.... I had stashed it away and forgotten I had it!!!!!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I often spin just for the sake/enjoyment of it but this yarn was intended as the weft in a hand woven scarf which was supposed to be one of my items for sale at 'Living Crafts' at Woburn Abby this May.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All events like this were cancelled because of 'C' virus and I've not spent time making items for sale. </div>
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<br />Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-45474719461570625252020-03-21T12:52:00.003+00:002020-03-21T12:52:58.193+00:00All Colours 'Arranged'<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">DYE SAMPLES ARRANGED</span></u></b></div>
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<i> ' There is a tendency for all of us to use dye colours straight from the pot, without mixing and creating new shades, unless of course there are small quantities of liquor left at the end of a project. It is time consuming and expensive to make your own shade cards. This year I am working with two Weavers, Spinners and Dyers guilds to produce, hopefully, the shades that can be produced with all 16 of the Texere Acid Dye range. Hundreds of skeins and many cards to file the colours have had to be made and distributed, but later this month the project will be close to completion. Fingers Crossed!!! Above are photos of the first batch of samples, waiting to be threaded on to the file cards. Don't they look great! It seems a shame to split them up.'</i></div>
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTYZv3qpGbIEZOpU_o4gOey9jhxyKlzW-a-ZWraYD6HYchJGNyg6fvVilenTtx9uefFKHw264dzQTOlBjCfXQ7Dn91H4vVmi9Yf9OjvMVxFVA_vNGUKyPOc-59VlGOxEqqtgwgdD46zd6/s1600/shades+red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1264" data-original-width="1600" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTYZv3qpGbIEZOpU_o4gOey9jhxyKlzW-a-ZWraYD6HYchJGNyg6fvVilenTtx9uefFKHw264dzQTOlBjCfXQ7Dn91H4vVmi9Yf9OjvMVxFVA_vNGUKyPOc-59VlGOxEqqtgwgdD46zd6/s320/shades+red.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div>
Since we, Bedfordshire guild WSD, along with Guild of Longdraw Spinners took the time to create this useful reference it has been used very infrequently.<br />
New members have joined the group and they want to learn how to create their own self striping yarns, mainly for socks and small items to be knitted or crocheted. So, the samples have been retrieved out of the cupboard and arranged in a ring binder. It will be good to see the results of the workshop.Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-21722674478159734582020-03-18T12:43:00.000+00:002020-03-18T12:50:25.231+00:00Nature's Inspiration<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;"> INSPIRED BY NATURE</span></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zlmdp560JeB9egiT4smQRxSb3k7936KEr7aMUf2jgi0BRtYVjNAeNRk6m-K31PtWVYTKXBZ5CUml31UnVgjYyogHy5d8Y2V9QSgC7uY6BOiAJhFKbKqLxSbOmx80izzIHds4m0xEBTI8/s1600/daffies+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1560" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zlmdp560JeB9egiT4smQRxSb3k7936KEr7aMUf2jgi0BRtYVjNAeNRk6m-K31PtWVYTKXBZ5CUml31UnVgjYyogHy5d8Y2V9QSgC7uY6BOiAJhFKbKqLxSbOmx80izzIHds4m0xEBTI8/s320/daffies+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have always been fond of primulas and violets.<br />
As a child I picked many primroses and cowslips on the banks at Cresswell, Northumberland, where my parents took us regularly, even before they had a static caravan on the site facing the North Sea.<br />
In our garden patches of primulae alternate with the flowers of spring bulbs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjBmk9EjwoHgvE7lhRM-dyLddWgg4q0m0BJgh7wDXhaqufOCU6PUwz-YEJsNPQTsWoR3qLlRbG8RxEaGc2sO1mCwVGmVVtwzStHDtZuZ5mqSpt7xgUQUNdRLZU9yb_QYA4wNbWr-gs4pv/s1600/primulas+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="1600" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjBmk9EjwoHgvE7lhRM-dyLddWgg4q0m0BJgh7wDXhaqufOCU6PUwz-YEJsNPQTsWoR3qLlRbG8RxEaGc2sO1mCwVGmVVtwzStHDtZuZ5mqSpt7xgUQUNdRLZU9yb_QYA4wNbWr-gs4pv/s320/primulas+crop.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLI0SChJg_rAHhaSeizz_BDGdQwULkC6I8Rdu9reXjJD_1C6pKeH0OEZb4CdJ6YR1i0mcNGvl1yol8xHbVa9VbPZWLUB9Ypp6YgtaoQRb8DnNHwFpY2-t-t-rumcEnvZ64LRyTKC0ip6ka/s1600/Green+skein.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="917" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLI0SChJg_rAHhaSeizz_BDGdQwULkC6I8Rdu9reXjJD_1C6pKeH0OEZb4CdJ6YR1i0mcNGvl1yol8xHbVa9VbPZWLUB9Ypp6YgtaoQRb8DnNHwFpY2-t-t-rumcEnvZ64LRyTKC0ip6ka/s320/Green+skein.JPG" width="183" /></a><br />
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Two or three days ago I was wondering what my latest craft project could be. With this in mind I had a rummage through my 'stash' of spinning fibres and decided to try to spin a yarn that represented the blooms in our garden.<br />
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I spun with green alone on one bobbin and the second I spun with equal amounts of the flower and leaf colours.<br />
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Unfortunately, the green is rather more blue than the actual leaf colours and maybe I should have distributed the colours more evenly in small amounts/flecks of the flower colours but still, I think I will dye some wool roving, matching the colours better with the 'real thing'.<br />
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I have just the resource to help me!!!!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53ZWVWTiL9xwka5-U3n6o4GFBh6alcT_MxXTuc-f-SsBoMVsR0RbNYiLPY1lFAkrexvoOJD5XRULGZq-QaIsRnM_K15KPHZs8Nj-xaMGo_ZN0Vt1HCnmyCGIkASwIp76lsCTcRkwXUda3/s1600/Kemtex+colours+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="1600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53ZWVWTiL9xwka5-U3n6o4GFBh6alcT_MxXTuc-f-SsBoMVsR0RbNYiLPY1lFAkrexvoOJD5XRULGZq-QaIsRnM_K15KPHZs8Nj-xaMGo_ZN0Vt1HCnmyCGIkASwIp76lsCTcRkwXUda3/s320/Kemtex+colours+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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This was a project undertaken with the cooperation of the members of two guilds, Bedfordshire Guild WSD and Longdraw Spinners and should be very useful to those who want to 'colour match' and not simply use the dyes as they come from the 'pot'. I wonder how many people have used them?</div>
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<br />Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-87557349227994001732020-03-16T15:04:00.000+00:002020-09-02T10:41:45.980+01:00PROJECTS FOR A RAINY DAY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">ACTIVITIES TO INSPIRE WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS</span></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzZ6q2Sd_gJ8Y9kHlsFvuMmQ4xkLzB15eFiRvFPCgJG9f6rTWiuptJLPvCDye-qrSpWCfgcOkth53mhAzd4ccAtg9kxKSHjMRgvvX8wAHDlamhVPtkbUBh0hQ1DDpo3-vKTvjisN4qhhV/s1600/ROVING.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="806" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzZ6q2Sd_gJ8Y9kHlsFvuMmQ4xkLzB15eFiRvFPCgJG9f6rTWiuptJLPvCDye-qrSpWCfgcOkth53mhAzd4ccAtg9kxKSHjMRgvvX8wAHDlamhVPtkbUBh0hQ1DDpo3-vKTvjisN4qhhV/s320/ROVING.JPG" width="268" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDi8qASVxc21BvJbo1fRdr5gNj0ypptBGu5dcsisUQaLJNbNnSbQ1KWVM6vDJI4ZSEYJ40BJk374lb_unX6CkeTODy4BvJJF28o52nTwCh00RxGm6oJ6NMlO-fR_5P5UhUPDZbS90Ny3ag/s1600/IMG_1852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="754" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDi8qASVxc21BvJbo1fRdr5gNj0ypptBGu5dcsisUQaLJNbNnSbQ1KWVM6vDJI4ZSEYJ40BJk374lb_unX6CkeTODy4BvJJF28o52nTwCh00RxGm6oJ6NMlO-fR_5P5UhUPDZbS90Ny3ag/s320/IMG_1852.JPG" width="251" /></a></div>
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The above pictures are not mine but they served to inspire me to start a spinning project that would help with boredom and inertia on bad weather days. I probably wouldn't usually buy or dye my own tops with these colours but I do like the resulting yarn, so maybe it's a colourway for the future.</div>
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It looks to me as though the yarn is 2 ply and has been created by dividing the tops in half down its length, after which each each ply was spun and then both plied together.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3rkZ70SMBnl4BVgfWAN3hxNT3JQ-_hCPhf0wS4CU9_jqTGeANsBcZoYZsPBZhTbAA6IE1ilxO9ikAtKzNI5tsgaksUqIHc4Tat_Wdk0Y5hDyrCXQnVKwiXCe3ediEGZRgM4PteuJ3tsi/s1600/inspiration1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1258" data-original-width="1600" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3rkZ70SMBnl4BVgfWAN3hxNT3JQ-_hCPhf0wS4CU9_jqTGeANsBcZoYZsPBZhTbAA6IE1ilxO9ikAtKzNI5tsgaksUqIHc4Tat_Wdk0Y5hDyrCXQnVKwiXCe3ediEGZRgM4PteuJ3tsi/s320/inspiration1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This photograph was taken at the bottom of our garden last year and it inspired the hands pun skein below. I didn't dye the fibre. I used coloured tops that had been unused, having been bought as individual colours to create batts.</div>
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A two ply yarn, one ply of which is all green the other is a combination of slubs in pinks, yellows and lime green spaced along the second ply of the yarn.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFv2xfj19rehTtTJi-NSos0UreY7xduK3CefKDirTwFRTq-HbDyrNpdMFKvuqfTu0jVUI7-wIXN-aKZ_lM-tLMosaij2a7uRQl5P04J2-Qhcx82xj04eQqmBhqn16YLp0v8XChPi5hUDXS/s1600/honesty+and+tulips2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="1600" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFv2xfj19rehTtTJi-NSos0UreY7xduK3CefKDirTwFRTq-HbDyrNpdMFKvuqfTu0jVUI7-wIXN-aKZ_lM-tLMosaij2a7uRQl5P04J2-Qhcx82xj04eQqmBhqn16YLp0v8XChPi5hUDXS/s400/honesty+and+tulips2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Several days ago I found myself with no particular project in mind and went down the garden again, taking photographs of the primulas, my favourite spring flower after the snowdrops, daffodils and crocuses but couldn't decide how I was going to spin some yarn to do them justice.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdqVEZwBkb_8D8Q0BjbyUAZCoS-2nowCpQrEzqDDmDmms95lt5_DzkNtpPo08MeaMamkdriXTlyK9lWZG2OzifnVN7UfSpSYVWJquwtHeho5Ccd9UNKMSfmdtYMdRSp7ddHPVkMXQBqqO/s1600/navaho+3+ply+skein+rotated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1600" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdqVEZwBkb_8D8Q0BjbyUAZCoS-2nowCpQrEzqDDmDmms95lt5_DzkNtpPo08MeaMamkdriXTlyK9lWZG2OzifnVN7UfSpSYVWJquwtHeho5Ccd9UNKMSfmdtYMdRSp7ddHPVkMXQBqqO/s320/navaho+3+ply+skein+rotated.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I began some trials with other colours to help me decide how I was going to put the colours together and how many plies I was going to spin to create a yarn that represented the colours distributed in the garden.<br />
The first skein - above - was spun with the individual colours in turn on one bobbin , then the resulting singles was Navajo plied into a smooth (ish) 3 ply yarn with each colour plied on its self.<br />
In the yarn below I divided the colours to create a 'fractal' yarn.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWF69Cicao3TipcG2jwyjh3u4ss0v509ucXTMuwXm0a2dJgVl2jXXMiqHBnLYU-ZxRqs4uMMtQyXgU-sNLS3CI13aYw0qpj0J5E7nfQFje-mWrwQpNVgGeYbDAfj7O5JGCaplugW9X79A/s1600/plied+yarn+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWF69Cicao3TipcG2jwyjh3u4ss0v509ucXTMuwXm0a2dJgVl2jXXMiqHBnLYU-ZxRqs4uMMtQyXgU-sNLS3CI13aYw0qpj0J5E7nfQFje-mWrwQpNVgGeYbDAfj7O5JGCaplugW9X79A/s320/plied+yarn+4.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5yoJ9FTjOBRf6zaBIt0TyR4rvI-mhOoQpcKUQk4p38PZoHcUCEWjYCDnbRXqGnsDHtOXGcNYP2SGQaAWfbJ4bPzBdJt-e84xEzK6JERliuUOtL_M7m9DkgvnUyMDTu-UkGQEd3PO8WMl/s1600/3+colours+3+sections.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1352" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5yoJ9FTjOBRf6zaBIt0TyR4rvI-mhOoQpcKUQk4p38PZoHcUCEWjYCDnbRXqGnsDHtOXGcNYP2SGQaAWfbJ4bPzBdJt-e84xEzK6JERliuUOtL_M7m9DkgvnUyMDTu-UkGQEd3PO8WMl/s320/3+colours+3+sections.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-73127767323447820012020-03-12T16:31:00.000+00:002020-03-12T16:31:34.550+00:00A Yarn to Celebrate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Bedfordshire Guild Ruby Celebration</u></span></div>
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Bedfordshire Guild WSD began in 1979 and this needed to be celebrated!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_y-HAjxZH-WVb0XgrIt3QedWjV8H2ao7kyWa1PwiLucexrxCJK5qxthSW3wp0siGywirjEfoPDOkQAiYMy6VC37_xvNcod0eQ7k9rXX6tc-Yc5UtpJSrL4JMn1VKamJug9x30CiI11kbA/s1600/Ruby+Bobbin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="1600" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_y-HAjxZH-WVb0XgrIt3QedWjV8H2ao7kyWa1PwiLucexrxCJK5qxthSW3wp0siGywirjEfoPDOkQAiYMy6VC37_xvNcod0eQ7k9rXX6tc-Yc5UtpJSrL4JMn1VKamJug9x30CiI11kbA/s320/Ruby+Bobbin.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScWadNHGZ2MJcrZChpvRNqDv_Qtwkq_HpFZFeUW4GZDigWMsvQMgKrQ7eVsnVdXdtMNfCsDiM4S6elWZKPDPLIsk1jSA9EPOCQrL8h15kUP0fnGHEzkLUJcbDiv4wJExG6WsG9KuJ2rRy/s1600/RUBY+project.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScWadNHGZ2MJcrZChpvRNqDv_Qtwkq_HpFZFeUW4GZDigWMsvQMgKrQ7eVsnVdXdtMNfCsDiM4S6elWZKPDPLIsk1jSA9EPOCQrL8h15kUP0fnGHEzkLUJcbDiv4wJExG6WsG9KuJ2rRy/s320/RUBY+project.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Those of us who spin admire the yarns and fibre blends produced by John Arbon and his team and he was only too happy to create a 'Ruby' colour blend in 80% Merino/20% silk fibre.</div>
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Most members ordered an amount between 100g and 1 kilo. Spinning it has taken some time and nearly all have completed their project.</div>
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As I wanted to weave a length of fabric the spinning of my yarn kept me busy but very happy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72Pwwy40rcv-CPoN3qXD7wJ84n8VS91nYbfGi2GtD67z_OPMRMZCeEF84A5QXAxW7p3OqI9qT43j-PmU6BEXlRXLcjajhUXpdZJQLFhr701tC8bE7IFTL6cT8eHF_HXeE9pXuN3OrNlmt/s1600/Ruby+skein.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1085" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72Pwwy40rcv-CPoN3qXD7wJ84n8VS91nYbfGi2GtD67z_OPMRMZCeEF84A5QXAxW7p3OqI9qT43j-PmU6BEXlRXLcjajhUXpdZJQLFhr701tC8bE7IFTL6cT8eHF_HXeE9pXuN3OrNlmt/s320/Ruby+skein.JPG" width="308" /></a></div>
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Years ago, when I learned to spin and weave at college, I was determined that I would spin to weave a length of clothing fabric. Sadly, it has taken me some time to be brave enough to get on with this huge undertaking.<br />
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It has been said that it takes 7 spinners to supply a weaver and knowing, from experience, that preparing a warp, setting up my loom and weaving a 5 yard length would take a week I knew I would have to prepare myself for a 'long haul'. The plying of 100g (2 x 50 g) of yarn took all evening, approximately 4 hours!<br />
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<br />Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-26912385924025212252020-02-18T15:50:00.001+00:002020-03-12T15:32:24.834+00:00DYE SAMPLES IN USE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">DYE SAMPLES IN USE</span></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufJnLRrIsvKE_NEDQPnq3oOKm3Dne9CQLnDEAq-6gEnf94sWy5iuVQXcJMPGunmcNhPxETeTimw9a1xC6HZyadZBRtV1niC446xoLdiZFg-t0mELGu_CdZeypFUxMcw563bkoF_U4hU4D/s1600/Dye+range+and+yellows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1176" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufJnLRrIsvKE_NEDQPnq3oOKm3Dne9CQLnDEAq-6gEnf94sWy5iuVQXcJMPGunmcNhPxETeTimw9a1xC6HZyadZBRtV1niC446xoLdiZFg-t0mELGu_CdZeypFUxMcw563bkoF_U4hU4D/s320/Dye+range+and+yellows.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFN9pIAYRVEFooTJkCQ79hFgJ6wH_C-9SXzeevLpqdO3YpVJfxAhEU5rEiLt2g2KW_1vlvqv3Xd9Uh0mgkUauZVzxCprg4XiSAWzyysf2Lg6YST7Cobi7Ern9bCXF4L-vxf7loJfRw5iys/s1600/shades+red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1264" data-original-width="1600" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFN9pIAYRVEFooTJkCQ79hFgJ6wH_C-9SXzeevLpqdO3YpVJfxAhEU5rEiLt2g2KW_1vlvqv3Xd9Uh0mgkUauZVzxCprg4XiSAWzyysf2Lg6YST7Cobi7Ern9bCXF4L-vxf7loJfRw5iys/s320/shades+red.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gN72WGfez5senQfolm_9SF2efa64EweOONxs23gbLUNc4RzEx_wkjz63P5IIbtsxjD9tk_nMhuYzboupwngtqTJhyQOLm_AHJWKeVk5meoJqa31RgbPD6bzXcK3pIoaotKt_d0SCSb4T/s1600/dye+shades+2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="1600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gN72WGfez5senQfolm_9SF2efa64EweOONxs23gbLUNc4RzEx_wkjz63P5IIbtsxjD9tk_nMhuYzboupwngtqTJhyQOLm_AHJWKeVk5meoJqa31RgbPD6bzXcK3pIoaotKt_d0SCSb4T/s320/dye+shades+2a.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Since we, Bedfordshire guild WSD, along with Guild of Longdraw Spinners took the time to create this useful reference it has been used very infrequently.<br />
New members have joined the group and they want to learn how to create their own self striping yarns, mainly for socks and small items to be knitted or crocheted.<br />
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'<i style="text-align: center;">There is a tendency for all of us to use dye colours straight from the pot, without mixing and creating new shades, unless of course there are small quantities of liquor left at the end of a project. It is time consuming and expensive to make your own shade cards. This year I am working with two Weavers, Spinners and Dyers guilds to produce, hopefully, the shades that can be produced with all 16 of the Texere Acid Dye range. Hundreds of skeins and many cards to file the colours have had to be made and distributed, but later this month the project will be close to completion. Fingers Crossed!!! Above are photos of the first batch of samples, waiting to be threaded on to the file cards. Don't they look great! It seems a shame to split them up.'</i></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><b>For more information look at the blog entry:- 'All colours are there. creating shade cards.'</b></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><b>Feb 17 2017- Handspun Self-striping Yarn</b></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><b>Feb 23 2017- Striped Sock yarn Using a Skeining Board.</b></span></div>
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Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-23193289034064316732020-02-13T11:40:00.000+00:002020-02-13T11:40:18.777+00:00A Present to Myself!<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<u>E spinner Combo - SUCCESS!</u></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHq17o6pvb45gexqx5YrFSNFtd7adn07uqSa1ZZrkGVKp_AkcM3BV1_v_JpH4X6sazE1P1kVKAjtGJ84m5ysalnxw1BJ63P9Iz14_e0nNgYu-xCawMc-UIiDqel5oXtcPH_UtFnTvbvstR/s1600/Espinner+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1403" data-original-width="1409" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHq17o6pvb45gexqx5YrFSNFtd7adn07uqSa1ZZrkGVKp_AkcM3BV1_v_JpH4X6sazE1P1kVKAjtGJ84m5ysalnxw1BJ63P9Iz14_e0nNgYu-xCawMc-UIiDqel5oXtcPH_UtFnTvbvstR/s320/Espinner+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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More and more spinners are turning to electric spinning 'wheels'. They are more portable. It is difficult to take a spinning wheel on public transport!</div>
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The photograph above shows my e spinner on top of the wheeled trolley that holds all I need, including the e-spinner, to take to guild meetings.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4nq3by3q4P8UWoN3lyuDz-pAJffnFWSXTXqTgAQVYAe4o1gLWlIwEbbo-claXDF_9KrdVHyWoiLPm78I9mYh1xDrbEtyLy-DOHe-sYacjFyOrJWONh-I29twOFHQqWhFGhT_CUlt2NDp/s1600/E+spinner+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1311" data-original-width="1600" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4nq3by3q4P8UWoN3lyuDz-pAJffnFWSXTXqTgAQVYAe4o1gLWlIwEbbo-claXDF_9KrdVHyWoiLPm78I9mYh1xDrbEtyLy-DOHe-sYacjFyOrJWONh-I29twOFHQqWhFGhT_CUlt2NDp/s320/E+spinner+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Inside the trolley, in the foreground, is the E spinner in the left hand compartment of the bag provided with the spinner. The right hand compartment holds the lazy kate with 2 more bobbins as well as more fibre and a battery to power the e spinner away from home. There is still more space for lunch, books magazines etc.</div>
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<b><u>WHY AN E. SPINNER?</u></b></div>
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As I've probably said before, my reason for learning to spin was to be able to spin my own yarns for weaving. I have discovered that it can take longer to spin the yarn than to weave it up. It is supposed to have taken 7 hand spinners to supply a weaver and that was probably before the yarn produced was plied. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQD9z2oYaQ7R6F4xJ4tgnzoIgsBD8xKQ2rJpZeq2tCHPVvtVClx-uJv2N_irsvG5xSPxnl9ASrSdl7L06XpHfW4wmHeFKAGfBC9FVLyqErP8UfLWS637tTJMGaSsAvszw7pVfmyAUXehj/s1600/E+spinner+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1593" data-original-width="1492" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQD9z2oYaQ7R6F4xJ4tgnzoIgsBD8xKQ2rJpZeq2tCHPVvtVClx-uJv2N_irsvG5xSPxnl9ASrSdl7L06XpHfW4wmHeFKAGfBC9FVLyqErP8UfLWS637tTJMGaSsAvszw7pVfmyAUXehj/s320/E+spinner+2.JPG" width="299" /></a></div>
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The company who designed and make the 'WooLee Winder advertise the following advantages:-</div>
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You can spin a more consistent yarn.</div>
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Spin more yarn in less time.</div>
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Ply like never before</div>
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Never have to change hooks again.</div>
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Have more fun spinning.</div>
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With this in mind and the knowledge that having 'WooLee Winder' on your spinning wheel means you can get 1/3 more yarn on a bobbin by winding and save 1/3 of the time taken to spin the same amount of yarn using a 'normal' flyer with hooks that enable you to wind your spun yarn onto your bobbin in a series of small peaks.</div>
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Their claim that:- '<span style="background-color: #cba0b7; font-family: "arial";">You'll be able to ply an entire bobbin of yarn in only a few minutes and without stopping.' </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial";">I'm still not sure about!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cba0b7; font-family: "arial";">This will allow you to ply evenly and consistently.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cba0b7; font-family: "arial";"> Plying from WooLee Winder bobbins can also help to improve your plying experience since the yarn on these bobbins will unwind smoothly without any of the problems experienced with hook-wound bobbins.'</span></div>
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Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-14849038936713038012019-09-28T12:22:00.002+01:002019-09-28T12:24:43.931+01:00Temperature Decrease<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Winter Head Gear</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">From Fibre to Hat in 2 days</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9I37jLiU9f58gzVPOGnQ6TASs-FjOjroNxIlAYUWkUqScZt6kcVawIYV1ls0DH6YRXDvY4CVqdo6_ROXyyNeJQmvObHF625DFFKvIOuIXLgFVoxRsR6bWx8W7afCgt8y0Omqd8iP22Vtq/s1600/yarn+and+fibre+STRATA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1465" data-original-width="1512" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9I37jLiU9f58gzVPOGnQ6TASs-FjOjroNxIlAYUWkUqScZt6kcVawIYV1ls0DH6YRXDvY4CVqdo6_ROXyyNeJQmvObHF625DFFKvIOuIXLgFVoxRsR6bWx8W7afCgt8y0Omqd8iP22Vtq/s320/yarn+and+fibre+STRATA.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This lovely fibre a wool and silk blend, hand dyed by Amanda Hannaford and named 'STRATA', was too irresistible to leave in the bag to be gazed at and stroked. It called out to be spun.</div>
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My hubby wanted a balaclava since I made one for his father last year.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPD3ePZzhp1CCFR0twhicGHZvDbMBRNVVPO_yDWiTJ2rG7zKoTsdcBdGMnaIUauyH_k4demDdvHGm00n0NIaZ4Ck1lyrPAxSbTpv_lPSKhPBi1mESzDONrXXAOIgkVThzebaW5P9QhSVi/s1600/balaclava+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="902" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPD3ePZzhp1CCFR0twhicGHZvDbMBRNVVPO_yDWiTJ2rG7zKoTsdcBdGMnaIUauyH_k4demDdvHGm00n0NIaZ4Ck1lyrPAxSbTpv_lPSKhPBi1mESzDONrXXAOIgkVThzebaW5P9QhSVi/s320/balaclava+crop.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIEfZBoB2A42npMn1AIHybPzcnz2daAr9pDRZM7gv9j0gH9OeXpR_NZl2O05vUx79zlbqNGJfinxa6yl49t-zmtTu5mBFWg8612PEqjo4lOg9WymqlzotFxCMkbH-wiheibALec1Prmwh/s1600/BALACLAVA+style+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1294" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIEfZBoB2A42npMn1AIHybPzcnz2daAr9pDRZM7gv9j0gH9OeXpR_NZl2O05vUx79zlbqNGJfinxa6yl49t-zmtTu5mBFWg8612PEqjo4lOg9WymqlzotFxCMkbH-wiheibALec1Prmwh/s320/BALACLAVA+style+2.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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The plied yarn turned out to be somewhere between DK and 4ply.<br />
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The pattern was written for DK yarn so I had to knit a tension square, with 3.5mm needles, then adapt the pattern accordingly, thankfully, not difficult with such a simple pattern.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikv6yGpZ4W5iTSngvlA8Nl1NpnO2orcKa_xctcVjl1dQ9TTMgMnU85UoPu_WPL5y2UwuGnBEPn9wDpP9P1YcmxLhxYktl04tx0PE_JAU_w3mRg_pJTo424Vsd5vTXaszLDcp0YS1cJy_zy/s1600/HATcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1031" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikv6yGpZ4W5iTSngvlA8Nl1NpnO2orcKa_xctcVjl1dQ9TTMgMnU85UoPu_WPL5y2UwuGnBEPn9wDpP9P1YcmxLhxYktl04tx0PE_JAU_w3mRg_pJTo424Vsd5vTXaszLDcp0YS1cJy_zy/s320/HATcrop.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"> As the weather has changed to autumnal it was finished just in time for him to go out picking the apples on our trees and others shaken onto the grass by the wind.</span></div>
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Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-54913964998651359412019-09-24T12:40:00.003+01:002019-09-24T12:42:51.483+01:00MORE TEA TOWELS!!!!!!<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>A SECOND COTTON PROJECT</u></b></div>
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GOSH! I didn't realise how long it has been since my last post. I have been busy and the time has flown.<br />
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I did enjoy weaving the first batch and decided to weave more. This time in a twill weave to be able to compare the two weave structures and decide which I thought most appropriate to 'do the job' absorbing moisture. Also, I'd like to weave a length for a summer shirt blouse if I have sufficient yarn left and want to know whether I'd prefer the thickness of a tabby or twill fabric.<br />
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As I had lots of colours in relatively small amounts I decided to plan using one of my favourite colourways - rainbow.<br />
Making the warp, planning the colour sequence and repeats was a matter of mathematical calculations - how many rainbow colour repeats I could get in the wide of the warp and how many warp ends in each colour. I did have a little less yarn of some colours than needed but carried on with the warp regardless.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FI8RamIUOvep8RZ-b01Dcxh6j_Mcs9tus36IzYNeSWnh8caQrfIJ0WkoORJoa2LbrCA1q7Tm15kAkuK8gha95feSEMENtydGkjzigBy2c93RgiTXWAsKXTCF84eplvkwmHkeetGsq9SG/s1600/Twill+towels+2+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="1600" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FI8RamIUOvep8RZ-b01Dcxh6j_Mcs9tus36IzYNeSWnh8caQrfIJ0WkoORJoa2LbrCA1q7Tm15kAkuK8gha95feSEMENtydGkjzigBy2c93RgiTXWAsKXTCF84eplvkwmHkeetGsq9SG/s640/Twill+towels+2+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I did manage 5 from the warp, just as before but I have already given one of each weave structure to a family member so they could give me feedback on which they think is preferable.<br />
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Is it worth me weaving more to sell at craft shows? Well the jury is out at the moment! I have heard of someone paying as much as £40 for a handwoven tea towel. I have yet to see it to be able to compare and decide what I would need to charge.<br />
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I have always considered cotton more tricky than wool to work with but both my towel lengths have been fine with no irregularly tensioned warp threads, so I am heartened and encouraged to plan some more cotton projects. Watch this space!Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-74716420763803209412019-03-24T11:24:00.002+00:002019-03-24T11:30:19.464+00:00A Second 'De-stash' Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>DE-STASH TEA TOWELS</b></span></u></div>
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Well, this is an item I thought I'd never weave!</div>
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While sorting through the boxes and shelves with yarn that was acquired many years ago, I came across cones of cotton and linen in a variety of quantity and colours.</div>
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I thought, as I am unable to wear anything woollen, something to wear in the summer would be great.</div>
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Sampling, dare I admit it, has never been my thing, but I have always been intrigued by peoples enthusiasm for weaving T towels. So I decided to combine the two. I needed to know how much shrinkage etc if I was to weave a length of cotton fabric for summer wear and why not make samples that could be used!!!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7aW8_TUhDs6Z1li89xb8RSrH6EsLaTn5zeyCCODaBT35uAY8QHZSBuYurH6URnaCPaKGORDy_E8qKiCkLUPxp2tQ58yX_P7QDyTq3ezz9DIZyki0f6CKrzitAyYBIO0rXuc5TbPoSHrY/s1600/FIRST+TOWELcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="1600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7aW8_TUhDs6Z1li89xb8RSrH6EsLaTn5zeyCCODaBT35uAY8QHZSBuYurH6URnaCPaKGORDy_E8qKiCkLUPxp2tQ58yX_P7QDyTq3ezz9DIZyki0f6CKrzitAyYBIO0rXuc5TbPoSHrY/s320/FIRST+TOWELcrop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I decided that fabric 20 x 30 inches would make an adequate tea towel and designed a warp 23 inches wide, 5 yards long for 4 towels. A wrap told me that I would need 20 warp threads an inch using the 2/20 thickness. Fortunately, I have that weight of yarn in a few colours. No white or cream so I decided that the silver/dove grey would be my main warp colour. A little boring on its own I decided to have purple vertical stripes. All tabby weave would also be monotonous, so I chose to add sections of 'Swedish lace'. It took some time to design the warp to include 7 lace sections across the width and I planned tabby sections at each side in case my selvedges weren't good enough!!!!! As it happened it was relatively easy to weave straight, neat selvedges and I soon got into a rhythm weaving.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtejc_3ovEv_41RHUhyl1bxhk8su-jBZwENJnv287WnYOp28eUoVZCF2ZeUWJGN8alC-T2sUkzaWjnsQfORUOsJn1eVXXV0_YicyPAI_chPcR2jaJF9CWNNOMZPRKtfcNelFbxlmoD3ph/s1600/towel+one+both+sides+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1306" data-original-width="1177" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtejc_3ovEv_41RHUhyl1bxhk8su-jBZwENJnv287WnYOp28eUoVZCF2ZeUWJGN8alC-T2sUkzaWjnsQfORUOsJn1eVXXV0_YicyPAI_chPcR2jaJF9CWNNOMZPRKtfcNelFbxlmoD3ph/s320/towel+one+both+sides+crop.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>
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Back and front of the Swedish lace pattern.</div>
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I completed the warp and setting up the loom in one day. After two days weaving I ended up with 5 tea towels. Each one with a different colourway using purple, blue and green along with the pale grey. I intended to use mainly grey and keep the colours for another project but.... unless I would be prepared to wear a 'multicoloured dream coat' I hadn't enough of the colours.</div>
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Some of the cottons are particularly shiny so I think they must be mercerised - no good for an absorbent tea towel, but probably great for 'stain free' clothing fabric.</div>
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A few cones were thinner yarn - 50 wraps to the inch - perhaps they would make a great dress or summer top fabric in a twill based weave.</div>
Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-56501731044890319462019-03-04T14:40:00.001+00:002019-03-04T14:40:03.264+00:00WET FINISHING HAND-WOVENS<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u> FABRIC WOVEN & OFF THE LOOM</u> !</b></div>
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This is the most nerve racking part of the process. After taking the time to warp your loom, weaving the fabric, cut it from the loom, make any 'repairs', and all has gone well, the next step could ruin it all!!!! Put it down to experience ????? A hard lesson!!!!! Not much comfort there!<br />
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<b><u>WASHING</u></b></div>
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No matter how many times I wet finish fabric in my washing machine I feel nervous. Especially if I've not used that particular yarn before. Hey ho! In it goes, gently folding it into the drum with plenty of air, no compaction. </div>
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This piece was washed on the 30 deg. wool programme and I used wool scouring detergent and a little conditioner.</div>
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So, it's out of the machine, nothing dreadful has happened to it and examination tells me the fabric is 'fulled' just right without felting! :-))<br />
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<b><u>DRYING</u></b></div>
I use a length of thick cardboard carpet roll with holes drilled all around it.<br />
Attached to this with heavy duty carpet tape is a length of old sheeting which goes round the roll one and a half to two times. The sheeting is approximately 4" wider than the widest width I can weave. It is attached carefully at right angles to the end of the tube. There are no turnings on any edge of the fabric!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGooNGT0Q64qA71S_b3C23MSdUfVob_pSY8nBOGhiwlpr_k6-650LUZaaDIj4CJWQfI6rC4capRowionKgByb1XnwU_LJvE7cxJdNeeYHNqtX0aU-KWYjKz__GOJQ6Q0h0a-olTBehyBPw/s1600/drying+roller+parts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="1600" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGooNGT0Q64qA71S_b3C23MSdUfVob_pSY8nBOGhiwlpr_k6-650LUZaaDIj4CJWQfI6rC4capRowionKgByb1XnwU_LJvE7cxJdNeeYHNqtX0aU-KWYjKz__GOJQ6Q0h0a-olTBehyBPw/s320/drying+roller+parts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I believe I may have used some curtain lining fabric for this one. The edges are not cut but torn.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauk8fpvYzdBATfh3yUlcNIi08UpciuITzNzSNX17aTMUNkxA6St6LwUqu0_GgHW1VOZ9pVs_JF52jrfd1b7KjiwmA9dVCITKLt8pABcrC3KGAp0_mx170rhlATqbys5U_zJB_pPIE-xzd/s1600/taped+roller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauk8fpvYzdBATfh3yUlcNIi08UpciuITzNzSNX17aTMUNkxA6St6LwUqu0_GgHW1VOZ9pVs_JF52jrfd1b7KjiwmA9dVCITKLt8pABcrC3KGAp0_mx170rhlATqbys5U_zJB_pPIE-xzd/s320/taped+roller.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The lining fabric has been taped to the roller at right angles to the edge.</div>
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When you take your fabric out of the machine, bowl or bath, depending which method you have chosen the fabric will be crinkled. To take these out and get a flat length to put on the roller work your way down the length in the following manner:- Stretching diagonally, left to right, right to left from one end to the other and again from the opposite end. This will flatten you fabric and square up the horizontal weft leaving it at right angles to the warp.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOSSfkZxeOwGgbeb0SwysBMOkekRp2VLD8yvnZkzk1_sKCPyfW7vYhxhfzx_ZYFLhriFDORLA0I08FOYZZpKdFR0q8Gzvrvg8otmRc02SagskeXttLjWrps2bPRr0NalZiOxkCkZ1hZl5/s1600/WET3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="452" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOSSfkZxeOwGgbeb0SwysBMOkekRp2VLD8yvnZkzk1_sKCPyfW7vYhxhfzx_ZYFLhriFDORLA0I08FOYZZpKdFR0q8Gzvrvg8otmRc02SagskeXttLjWrps2bPRr0NalZiOxkCkZ1hZl5/s200/WET3.jpg" width="170" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEHLkxVO81uNpqPG-byL8aeEU_88Z5lPwvcoF5d1q0qMbE14AQ2OOekNEguLVNx7aGsPmTSEYyIKuLreyZQmX0YmRlz3qg8I40KouRU-mJ-d1WlPo3BfRKgFNI4z5acvHaUOKSfMcD33J/s1600/WET+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1405" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEHLkxVO81uNpqPG-byL8aeEU_88Z5lPwvcoF5d1q0qMbE14AQ2OOekNEguLVNx7aGsPmTSEYyIKuLreyZQmX0YmRlz3qg8I40KouRU-mJ-d1WlPo3BfRKgFNI4z5acvHaUOKSfMcD33J/s200/WET+1.jpg" width="175" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVDxGHXJCAogUaRHYBG6ikBJU-CWydO6UgunDd45-oF7d5boggLDrRYiikCJD-kL64BRfGm-sOUelyOVA6e1EuqgsICk6aMlEVSp4EMuWeVKArJwpSAKmlfxBguHf_K48dborBf2uu98m/s1600/WF2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVDxGHXJCAogUaRHYBG6ikBJU-CWydO6UgunDd45-oF7d5boggLDrRYiikCJD-kL64BRfGm-sOUelyOVA6e1EuqgsICk6aMlEVSp4EMuWeVKArJwpSAKmlfxBguHf_K48dborBf2uu98m/s200/WF2.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<i>I seem to remember that, at college, a friend and I gathered one end of the fabric length each into both hands and pulled back and forth, between each other, to 'square up' the weave. then we moved on to the drying roller.</i></div>
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The next step is to put the damp fabric onto the roller.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_w5hKSTLynXQaRDovH308wl92pbvng5QFhd5BFIZvOzIqoSaGmD-H0OrGNUoa6gDS_hj9S6E6Ojw1lY6_UaGvgiQuIFuhGRFOJy0auy4dxF_dSrgFuAgv-bWWFXvMgzE5gF6tE2O-Gluo/s1600/Begin+to+roll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_w5hKSTLynXQaRDovH308wl92pbvng5QFhd5BFIZvOzIqoSaGmD-H0OrGNUoa6gDS_hj9S6E6Ojw1lY6_UaGvgiQuIFuhGRFOJy0auy4dxF_dSrgFuAgv-bWWFXvMgzE5gF6tE2O-Gluo/s320/Begin+to+roll.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Put the roller on a flat surface - I usually use my ironing board - with the cotton fabric completely around the roller with the extra length pointing towards you.</div>
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Tuck the end of your fabric up to the roller and parallel with it.</div>
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With the flat of your hands smooth the fabric width-wise and diagonally keeping the checks square, deep colour stripes vertical and horizontal. When satisfied with the first section roll the roller forward with the fabric wrapped around it. Continue in this way until your fabric is wound onto the roller. You will find that the width of the wet cloth increases slightly.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYZdGjYbGw78uKEUj2ogvNP224Yws2F_CzH7nDy-5gTKtgPcQc3x5UUmrGQswy0NetpL8nOwHjlmDfAe_FTqFcqgXCZq5Ti9vTGWGSuKi4tMdKz3SfDrcZzhPIYtwzQRD1PxrBWM2P2Kf/s1600/WET+FINISH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYZdGjYbGw78uKEUj2ogvNP224Yws2F_CzH7nDy-5gTKtgPcQc3x5UUmrGQswy0NetpL8nOwHjlmDfAe_FTqFcqgXCZq5Ti9vTGWGSuKi4tMdKz3SfDrcZzhPIYtwzQRD1PxrBWM2P2Kf/s320/WET+FINISH.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i> (I'm not sure why these pictures are loading portrait because they were saved landscape. Hopefully you can see what is intended. I may be able to right the problem at a later time. (fingers crossed))</i><br />
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Once all the fabric is on the roller it is hung up to dry. In my case in the utility room, from 'laundry hooks' on the top of two cupboard doors.<br />
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After two days I took it down and rolled the fabric again from the opposite end. This speeds up the drying time.</div>
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Now the big decision........ <b>What shall I make with it?</b><br />
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<br />Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-90094675389061962282019-02-26T12:20:00.000+00:002019-02-26T13:28:43.588+00:00Planning a Woven Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>You'll Never Believe the Maths Involved.....</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Over the years I have met many 'beginner' weavers who have been disappointed in their first project results and sometimes they have been completely 'put off' the craft of weaving. I'm still working towards encouraging these and new weavers to continue and enjoy this rewarding craft. When you follow a knitting pattern you use the thickness of yarn and size of needles recommended in the pattern instructions. Weaving is similar but you are likely to need to work out, for yourself, the size of rigid heddle in the case of Rigid Heddle weavers, or, in the case of table and floor loom weavers, the reed needed to 'spread' the warp threads on your loom.</div>
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Weaving yarn is not always sold in the small quantities of knitting yarns - 50 -100g.</div>
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You may have to buy a cone weighing 500g. Does your intended project need more than this? You need to know before starting, especially if your yarn supplier is not close by!</div>
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Recently, one of our daughters in law decided she'd like to learn to weave and of course I have encouraged her. I own a portable folding floor loom which I have mainly used for demonstrations at events where I have been selling my wares. So she has no need to buy her own equipment, at least until she is sure she wants to continue. I thought this the perfect opportunity to document the process from beginning to end. </div>
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A length of tweed for a shawl is the chosen project.</div>
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How much yarn do we need to buy? The chosen yarn is a Shetland type from Uppingham yarns. One that I had worked with before and had success.</div>
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Their colour chart with small sample skeins was ordered and 4 colours chosen, flannel grey and donkey being the main warp and weft colours, with heron and robin's egg chosen to create a square/check design. BUT how much would we need of each colour, especially the main 'ground' colours of flannel and Donkey? Thank fully I had some 'peacock' left on a cone, wraps per inch 24. A balanced 2/2 twill weave decided upon meant 16 ends to the inch warp and weft.</div>
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Now to exercise our brains:-</div>
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How long a piece of fabric you we need? </div>
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The piece I was to weave, on my Harris 4 shaft floor loom, was going to use the yarns in my last post 'Yarn De-stash 2019'.</div>
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I required 4 yards of finished cloth, 27" wide.</div>
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As you weave there will be 10% take up of the fabric width as well as on the length. <i>This is because neither warp nor weft actually take a straight path across or along the length of woven piece, they 'wiggle' up and down as they interact with the yarn at right angles.</i></div>
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So, calculate to weave a length of 4 yards + 10%. i.e. 144" + 15" - for easy calculations 160" long.</div>
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BUT, the length you weave will shrink up to 15% in the wet finishing, so you need to weave fabric <b>160" plus 15% i.e 24" = 184" length weaving.</b></div>
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<b>Hold on!!!! you have to add on your 'loom waste'. </b>That is the length of warp needed to tie onto the front of your loom and the unwoven warp at the end of your weaving when you can't get a shuttle through the 'shed' (space) created when you go to weave another row. In my experience this is 30 to 36 inches in total. </div>
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So <b>your warp needs to be 184 + 36 = 220" or 6 yards long</b>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP45gP0SlSNeDkCC87xDtfWgsJa8mE7N17tphjGtX5xjADx922XxlYETY28atV5OW_dx5LYk0vc0xKRlDZdeDy5uooO0bHSm8GVEiHUNCeL8k9nOQSXOVEs5UK3X3W-ca4JK-tWLwpdT8m/s1600/loom+waste+back.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP45gP0SlSNeDkCC87xDtfWgsJa8mE7N17tphjGtX5xjADx922XxlYETY28atV5OW_dx5LYk0vc0xKRlDZdeDy5uooO0bHSm8GVEiHUNCeL8k9nOQSXOVEs5UK3X3W-ca4JK-tWLwpdT8m/s200/loom+waste+back.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7uyWExEZi6fxqXc6U7D0XuBHm6G2UjZbT2_cFkdP6MMDyhDQNv34qCofxumvDEKgTzccQ-8ZWhWzeNiRsUe6FXzzAo5lEQuBl49ZCtLxhVKYP7zORkN9n8xpqH9Q2QXDryOmLgNK54eQ/s1600/front+loom+waste.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7uyWExEZi6fxqXc6U7D0XuBHm6G2UjZbT2_cFkdP6MMDyhDQNv34qCofxumvDEKgTzccQ-8ZWhWzeNiRsUe6FXzzAo5lEQuBl49ZCtLxhVKYP7zORkN9n8xpqH9Q2QXDryOmLgNK54eQ/s200/front+loom+waste.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<i>N.B. These pictures are not of the project being calculate in this post.</i></div>
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<b>HOW MANY WARP THREADS DO YOU NEED?</b></div>
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Warp width needs to be:-</div>
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To get finished fabric 24 " wide - add 10% for take up- i.e. 2.4 " = 26.4"</div>
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Now add 15% shrinkage = 30.3". For safety <b>31" wide warp </b></div>
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Therefore,<b> the number of warp ends</b> needed is 16(for each inch width) x 31 = <b>496 warp ends</b>.</div>
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<b>HOW MUCH WARP YARN DO YOU NEED?</b></div>
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Each warp end needs to be 6 yards.</div>
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So, you need 6 x 496 yards of warp thread = <b>2,976 yards</b> </div>
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BUT to create a selvedge you need 8 extra threads- 1/2" - on each side of your warp i.e 16 x 6 yards of yarn = 96 yards.</div>
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Total warp needed 2,976 + 96 = 3,072 yards. <b>2,835.6 meters</b>.</div>
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Uppingham Yarns say there are 2,875m in 500g of their Shetland style yarn!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div>
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Given there are 2 colours in the warp then a 500g cone of the main colour is sufficient for this projects warp.</div>
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<b>WHAT ABOUT THE WEFT?</b></div>
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We have already calculated that we need to weave <b>31" width</b> having taken shrinkage and take up into account and a <b>length of 184</b>".</div>
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For a 'balanced' twill weave there will be 16 weft threads across each inch of fabric.</div>
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<b>16 threads of 31 inches in each of 184 inches of fabric = 91,264 inches of weft yarn =2,340 meters. </b>So a cone of 500g/2,875m is sufficient for this project.</div>
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Again, 2 colours are being used in the weft so a cone of each is sufficient.</div>
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Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-68694363604614912382019-02-24T17:08:00.003+00:002019-02-24T17:09:37.148+00:00YARN DE-STASH 2019<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>DE-STASH PROJECT NUMBER 1, 2019</u></b></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpnAO0VvYZf8CXkTRMpfbNNh-v-Wpm2Jq6xO1JYS923taLDeNVRGP9k29waqddLKxZqu5H-lhA_nkZPi0Fsq-GqHFeRKGbSLUy3pwKJgSwlau1fTjE49gVyqY5MHVZHMm102ZLdNBAiNO/s1600/CONES+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1385" data-original-width="1545" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpnAO0VvYZf8CXkTRMpfbNNh-v-Wpm2Jq6xO1JYS923taLDeNVRGP9k29waqddLKxZqu5H-lhA_nkZPi0Fsq-GqHFeRKGbSLUy3pwKJgSwlau1fTjE49gVyqY5MHVZHMm102ZLdNBAiNO/s400/CONES+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have a lot of yarns left from the time before I started working solely with hand dyed silk. I am doing a lot of spinning at the moment. Spinning yarns to weave with was my reason for learning to spin. The spur for me to improve my spinning was getting yarn of a consistent thickness strong enough for a warp. I have previously achieved this with silk but one can't wear silk all the time!<br />
Having discovered two things, the first being that organic woollen fibres, mainly merino, don't irritate my skin, the second a great supplier, John Arbon, of attractive fibre and colour blends I am now spinning organic woollen fibres so I can produce lengths of fabric for some clothing.<br />
Spinning this yarn is taking some time and I am drawn to my weaving shed and woollen yarn that I bought some 30 years ago. Three of those in the photo are some of the 'stash'. The fourth, the peacock blue on the right, is some bought more recently from Uppingham Yarns and left over from weaving a twill length last year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDe-FEkuEx8V5la5oQyn0JiNA-AFwtlrjfdtkQSy6Giakvlh4gX0ntzihS0wzMdNTbP9h0Yf73u2B0pVxLq8ArdK70js4lWyJmM7h8ctcQqKVz1x3pK7KpresGIY-93sCllGp3Va-tM6S/s1600/Destash+tweed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDe-FEkuEx8V5la5oQyn0JiNA-AFwtlrjfdtkQSy6Giakvlh4gX0ntzihS0wzMdNTbP9h0Yf73u2B0pVxLq8ArdK70js4lWyJmM7h8ctcQqKVz1x3pK7KpresGIY-93sCllGp3Va-tM6S/s320/Destash+tweed.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Well, I'm nearly at the end of a 5 yard warp and I'm quite pleased with the effect. If I finish weaving it tomorrow i will get it in the washing machine to full and hang it to dry on a roller.</div>
<br />Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-41523586406493747752018-05-17T11:50:00.000+01:002018-06-26T14:51:24.090+01:00Trial weave Design<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<u>Trialing a Weaving Draft</u></h2>
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I have spent some time spinning a big batch of fibre tops, from John Arbon again, to fulfil my ambition to weave a length of fabric from my own handspun yarn - the reason I began spinning in the first place! The wound balls below are 'Toot Sweet', organic merino and silk, intended for the warp.</div>
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Each of the 21 balls is approximately 50g, 20 wraps per inch, that took me about two evenings each to spin.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9hIoek57z3dE8LiQMzYh_L_q79jyY0EimqBAsYP93H-n81Xhf37D3BBF3Yl9pFdplvqS0MLZRO02ksSRvmaqH9jvKu0jMfE-VLsaKkq6K8ddzrijkK43sTR5Ypsw2ghVifKVdYgm-YTU/s1600/Wine+warp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9hIoek57z3dE8LiQMzYh_L_q79jyY0EimqBAsYP93H-n81Xhf37D3BBF3Yl9pFdplvqS0MLZRO02ksSRvmaqH9jvKu0jMfE-VLsaKkq6K8ddzrijkK43sTR5Ypsw2ghVifKVdYgm-YTU/s400/Wine+warp.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have carefully measured each one and find that I have more than 4,200 metres, more than enough for a 7 metre warp, 34 inch loom width.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYJW-_7KuAAj4YExNdBAoOzc7SY9YOy59_K-jLybhkJVMLnJYI81AXqPYOXmKgMboYSTXYBHexzBQbFYgvxWscXkqfj1VC87CRa65wkvBj1U1qYrFo1SJ1rQzkoLNjKu7Euqb8b9jG9jx/s1600/Rose+Gold+fibre+basket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1242" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYJW-_7KuAAj4YExNdBAoOzc7SY9YOy59_K-jLybhkJVMLnJYI81AXqPYOXmKgMboYSTXYBHexzBQbFYgvxWscXkqfj1VC87CRa65wkvBj1U1qYrFo1SJ1rQzkoLNjKu7Euqb8b9jG9jx/s320/Rose+Gold+fibre+basket.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This basket contains the first of the fibre for the weft yarn, 'Rose Gold' alpaca supreme, again from John Arbon. It will take some time to spin this 1k batch and I am purposely not beginning it until we get back from holiday. I find it can be difficult to keep to the same weight and twists per inch after a long break. If I manage to spin to the same weight as the red I have calculated that my twill warp will need 14 ends to the inch.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kL7rgqURtikE3QBbUCrTh9QfdCxcRhlzWN6ymfJOmOs5JV28AbXyKjRWBTI0lXmipxlNE0UTpFD3GbbPWSXxTB-ZPPhgVhynEuX0Wl7dXinmblo7UrKw28P653Vu4fzgBjVlgK9kMrOS/s1600/Weavette+sample+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="886" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kL7rgqURtikE3QBbUCrTh9QfdCxcRhlzWN6ymfJOmOs5JV28AbXyKjRWBTI0lXmipxlNE0UTpFD3GbbPWSXxTB-ZPPhgVhynEuX0Wl7dXinmblo7UrKw28P653Vu4fzgBjVlgK9kMrOS/s200/Weavette+sample+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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I thought I might be able to do a small sample, to wash/wet finish, on this pin loom to check the right warp sett. Unfortunately, as you can see, a tabby weave would be more appropriate as it is only 12 threads per inch. Hey ho! it may suite a different project!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifb7E_dr1DEkmSSlx_ZyWQpuYVKMpu0cxHDW-grRIBAo-o2nPr6O-rZ6wRTIHu4wpzPjomXsbwfSg5Pv-ZRlnBXZxIht_zCdiL7fY2T-h3VGwB6wUmJ70L1Wdb8-SL7ohZZYJHxzJvmsV/s1600/Grey+white+twill+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1491" data-original-width="1060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifb7E_dr1DEkmSSlx_ZyWQpuYVKMpu0cxHDW-grRIBAo-o2nPr6O-rZ6wRTIHu4wpzPjomXsbwfSg5Pv-ZRlnBXZxIht_zCdiL7fY2T-h3VGwB6wUmJ70L1Wdb8-SL7ohZZYJHxzJvmsV/s320/Grey+white+twill+crop.jpg" width="227" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDd7YF7VsaYOAOWYC2l-SbnfdRoXYtv_f8Dm-wOylmWlcyZ3GnpgpfwSQvz7XbFaDxs8ZoQFUuYoydlVcj0ImXKutxmTaXP0OwuFEJ7bG0mcHaWhhVhHfI1SOEDX_KKzTrYxrSYEDZw6J7/s1600/Grey+Whitecrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1458" data-original-width="1600" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDd7YF7VsaYOAOWYC2l-SbnfdRoXYtv_f8Dm-wOylmWlcyZ3GnpgpfwSQvz7XbFaDxs8ZoQFUuYoydlVcj0ImXKutxmTaXP0OwuFEJ7bG0mcHaWhhVhHfI1SOEDX_KKzTrYxrSYEDZw6J7/s320/Grey+Whitecrop.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
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I have a number of woollen yarn cones on my shelves so I decided to try the weave draft I have selected, possibly, for the handspun yarn. I believe it's called 'Wall of Troy'. After weaving over a metre of this I reverted to a simple 2/2 twill treadling in order to get the length off my loom but I've not finished the length yet.</div>
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Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-70069480692596103022018-04-10T11:47:00.000+01:002018-04-10T11:48:56.623+01:00Drop Spindle Practice<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">DROP SPINDLE PROJECT</span></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aJ1jTrZBNuj0Pp7CrD_roN2we9VdmB8uAJMNoHXbx7tuUHFqtzc82lirfuxsB1fo8RabjVHLjCctIGhAj6qsrhyphenhyphen1hJdIHcoqRrEeXBAeHDt1fkitEl06yCpP6vKKGxJ3R7HCk9dTHFwM/s1600/SORBET+YARN+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1211" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aJ1jTrZBNuj0Pp7CrD_roN2we9VdmB8uAJMNoHXbx7tuUHFqtzc82lirfuxsB1fo8RabjVHLjCctIGhAj6qsrhyphenhyphen1hJdIHcoqRrEeXBAeHDt1fkitEl06yCpP6vKKGxJ3R7HCk9dTHFwM/s400/SORBET+YARN+1.JPG" width="302" /></a></div>
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Last year at Fibre East I decided to replace the drop spindle that I mislaid some 18 months ago.</div>
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The one I settled on is lighter than the one I had before. Wow are they great spindles! both beautiful and practical.</div>
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I bought 200g of fibre from John Arbon - Tutti Frutti - a blend of organic merino and silk, chosen because, finding other merino fibre uncomfortable to wear, I would be able to make use of any yarn produced.</div>
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I am very please with the end product, even though I didn't produce a yarn of consistent thickness, the singles being finer than I'd ever spun before on a drop spindle. That, in part, is due to the weight of the spindle which is 23 g.</div>
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To spin the singles I use a variation of the method I see most others use. I want to keep the spindle turning for as long as possible to produce the longest length of singles that I can - economy of effort - so I roll the shaft of the spindle up my thigh. This way the spindle spins longer and I can spin over one metre without stopping to wind the yarn on my spindle shaft, but I have to draft quickly to ensure there is not too much twist in the yarn.</div>
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<b><u>What does one make with 200g of yarn?</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQk0TPuQ5wiu2opEx5JbQbMgCIhENJXNkRPrwf1p5fgS49tUfJNVSlL5tOXP3YqsL3UUd8lilfowB4FcloqM17_GjdX_qngNaJffSoYZlkUsWpSjJM6CDYqD7XntRyM6h_8tMkuj9AInX/s1600/SCARF+SKEINS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1600" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQk0TPuQ5wiu2opEx5JbQbMgCIhENJXNkRPrwf1p5fgS49tUfJNVSlL5tOXP3YqsL3UUd8lilfowB4FcloqM17_GjdX_qngNaJffSoYZlkUsWpSjJM6CDYqD7XntRyM6h_8tMkuj9AInX/s400/SCARF+SKEINS.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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A rummage in my workshop may well have supplied the answer, fingers crossed.</div>
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Perhaps a weft for a scarf with Tuti Fruti and some hand dyed silk for the weft.</div>
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I have labelled each skein and I'm in the process of counting the number of yards I have produced on my umbrella swift. A task I don't relish, but better than finding myself short of yarn.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMMYc0mN29qH_lqiu_bVCE_3yIdEx2JS2l_BdRakIBgCst2cVKzrI9QRyYUFB3HKldeC6R51dBUULV5gVBs9rmcdMvUIgCcaH1ckBUAn7UIzdzQvAGm_6FgA9z7oGLZrQEXG0sEZhovKR/s1600/wool+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="490" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMMYc0mN29qH_lqiu_bVCE_3yIdEx2JS2l_BdRakIBgCst2cVKzrI9QRyYUFB3HKldeC6R51dBUULV5gVBs9rmcdMvUIgCcaH1ckBUAn7UIzdzQvAGm_6FgA9z7oGLZrQEXG0sEZhovKR/s320/wool+close+up.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdHieyoIwS2xBgovRIqnrNFtl8CKefqPArtecEfL88F_oWOG6saq1WFlIohYFBYroMbXjLtgErtLC14rXaUofk4m6Cfib8GB6mL0VnTE6v2qW4J-8k4SzpvqH9WQAPtzVyo6gzGMZnilC/s1600/silk+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="285" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdHieyoIwS2xBgovRIqnrNFtl8CKefqPArtecEfL88F_oWOG6saq1WFlIohYFBYroMbXjLtgErtLC14rXaUofk4m6Cfib8GB6mL0VnTE6v2qW4J-8k4SzpvqH9WQAPtzVyo6gzGMZnilC/s320/silk+closeup.jpg" width="265" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMMYc0mN29qH_lqiu_bVCE_3yIdEx2JS2l_BdRakIBgCst2cVKzrI9QRyYUFB3HKldeC6R51dBUULV5gVBs9rmcdMvUIgCcaH1ckBUAn7UIzdzQvAGm_6FgA9z7oGLZrQEXG0sEZhovKR/s1600/wool+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMMYc0mN29qH_lqiu_bVCE_3yIdEx2JS2l_BdRakIBgCst2cVKzrI9QRyYUFB3HKldeC6R51dBUULV5gVBs9rmcdMvUIgCcaH1ckBUAn7UIzdzQvAGm_6FgA9z7oGLZrQEXG0sEZhovKR/s1600/wool+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-67106975605933053542018-03-25T12:15:00.001+01:002018-03-25T12:15:59.542+01:00Tweed fabric Length<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Weather Too Bad to Work in Cabin</u></span></div>
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What do you do when the temperature is too low to work in your garden workshop?</div>
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Well, luckily I have an understanding hubby and room to spare in the dining room. It was actually his suggestion to bring my folding Harris floor loom into the house!</div>
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I couldn't get on with the piece on my floor loom because of the low temperature when it snowed last week but this was a great solution.</div>
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The shetland warp had been on this loom for 18 months. Set up to weave 2 shawls, the first of which was part of a 'How many spinners to supply a weaver?' demo at Fibre East 2016. The first shawl finished and passed on to The Guild of Londraw Spinners summer last year. They had spun the yarn for the weft! I was the weaver. The remainder of the warp didn't inspire me to get on and weave the rest. BUT....</div>
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I have recently been trying to destash the woollen yarns I have had on the shelves for nearly 30 years and so rummaging around on the corner shelf I found 2 cones with the blue flecked tweedy yarn. Not enough, I thought, for a whole length of fabric but when it ran out and with warp left to weave I had other yarns that would be suitable.</div>
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The decision was made - cushion covers. I had seen a number of twill weave cushions on the shelves in 'home' stores, so they must be the 'in' thing and I had the perfect warp yarn already on the loom!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksaBheaxLOGJhjD-pN_CtJVqXxPkkf0zTKbJMwBEky_mu4vJArZrWYHSwP1igU7eXtR5a1TVEAtE5SJFhUcASEAInIsBFxgI7CozqaJajvNXi5gSrky6JID0LOdFLVrAOiPtPZX1IDtny/s1600/Folding+Harris+loom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="1600" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksaBheaxLOGJhjD-pN_CtJVqXxPkkf0zTKbJMwBEky_mu4vJArZrWYHSwP1igU7eXtR5a1TVEAtE5SJFhUcASEAInIsBFxgI7CozqaJajvNXi5gSrky6JID0LOdFLVrAOiPtPZX1IDtny/s320/Folding+Harris+loom.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtM2lOegZuKnrLFBTya1VC-HkRiLiGRx7BnckJrA8xyGOcXghykgAYycrkFWbEuAlUcPka46GsLROr6-Gi0rDmArRDLPjUZ8AZRlePG2OllkEPpFI8xyGudAhb590PtjwB5VKWZ9XdDoIC/s1600/Folding+Harris+loom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9JRuu_lWpesSEG2R_iG4VkrZ5Y-6ARrAnNdX0TXSquI-ON2lqvuUlJuyBm8a-LIsSKCJTmwM92lEVIcwpLwOW9KohRdEBlN_A9uRNX0gRx8xpRmQcdbtSY_69rCVEg0Ns4fR0meOA-l8/s1600/cushion+tweed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9JRuu_lWpesSEG2R_iG4VkrZ5Y-6ARrAnNdX0TXSquI-ON2lqvuUlJuyBm8a-LIsSKCJTmwM92lEVIcwpLwOW9KohRdEBlN_A9uRNX0gRx8xpRmQcdbtSY_69rCVEg0Ns4fR0meOA-l8/s320/cushion+tweed.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AtriWYWzvUAxVflC7dtRp1T9Xw3jMGXJ7R4BqC8E_l-sO-VI-9J-JsPwsMW7Fn4BqXETWlhKCFONGaBuLQck3gY5owIhhJj9cy2bRP54g8X4C1aJpwgjI6L4RNdjKAOjs03v6i3R7X7X/s1600/Finished+fabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1369" data-original-width="1398" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AtriWYWzvUAxVflC7dtRp1T9Xw3jMGXJ7R4BqC8E_l-sO-VI-9J-JsPwsMW7Fn4BqXETWlhKCFONGaBuLQck3gY5owIhhJj9cy2bRP54g8X4C1aJpwgjI6L4RNdjKAOjs03v6i3R7X7X/s320/Finished+fabric.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Here you can see both warp and weft yarn<br />
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The finished length of fabric 4 yards, 24 inches wide, weighing 900g. there was 12" of waste warp at beginning and end which weighed 32g.<br />
At the moment I am unable to find my record of the tweed yarn weight! As this is not to be repeated I guess it doesn't matter too much?<br />
A case of 'do as I say not as I do'.<br />
I will post the info when I find it - says I feeling guilty!<br />
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The 2/2 twill repeat, 12 picks to the right, 4 picks left, 8 picks right, 4 picks left. Thankfully not as mesmerising as I thought it might be!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHB4bHwW6g1SqSTqFiSGsd0EYt44vaIK8QU7-5K0MpY12wqkc1MoYT45OplCEJK2frHINxzCWywOENcDZ8WnUm3IErXjb_nBtt5K2NIMYhj8eTNni7JVFt4HmEbWbMeIMpIkKvoeezHHF/s1600/Weave+close+up+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1461" data-original-width="1479" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHB4bHwW6g1SqSTqFiSGsd0EYt44vaIK8QU7-5K0MpY12wqkc1MoYT45OplCEJK2frHINxzCWywOENcDZ8WnUm3IErXjb_nBtt5K2NIMYhj8eTNni7JVFt4HmEbWbMeIMpIkKvoeezHHF/s320/Weave+close+up+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-66354645130814238062018-02-22T10:03:00.000+00:002019-05-22T11:30:55.781+01:00How far will your handspun yarn go?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><u>CALCULATING HOW FAR YOUR HAND-SPUN WILL GO</u></b></div>
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<b><u>Knitting on the diagonal</u></b></div>
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Following on from 'A Fill In Project':-</div>
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This is what I decided to make with the yarn.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AwnwwiPdiI7B3V4sQPzpKicGmQqBTdnr-QJLzmRCMkHOoCpxxeDsIFpBTHn3vin3wbwjAm4aKxBcGL7qn2GCaI7EhL3YC9meZPCH3wJr051a8WyfqmVk7zX2B2Nm7y2dnhd_lyy_3mT0/s1600/SCARF.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1470" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AwnwwiPdiI7B3V4sQPzpKicGmQqBTdnr-QJLzmRCMkHOoCpxxeDsIFpBTHn3vin3wbwjAm4aKxBcGL7qn2GCaI7EhL3YC9meZPCH3wJr051a8WyfqmVk7zX2B2Nm7y2dnhd_lyy_3mT0/s320/SCARF.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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One of the most worrying things, when you have used all your fibre and spun some yarn, is whether you have sufficient to complete a project.<br />
If you are to knit something like a simple scarf or even a waistcoat, as in my earlier post -<br />
'Hand spun, Naturally dyed Waistcoat', is to knit a 10cm square and weigh the yarn used, then calculate the area of knitted fabric your project needs, then 'do the sums'.<br />
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If you decide to knit a scarf then the calculation can be done while beginning the scarf with little chance of having to pull your work out to begin the project. Here I amusing the yarn from 'A Fill In' project.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PoZNDDJQiaQVYo7RBdIB7-O12yvxJNDdSr8liemmQdq6q6RcVcOulgxf6v-FjgjkbdwmxA9sL5uD507MRN1EtILzhb7MIcgVzoYsGw006GFCOzHjpqEAXFC8M3m-_JjSlfQOGsNB4L9W/s1600/first+triangle+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1458" data-original-width="1600" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PoZNDDJQiaQVYo7RBdIB7-O12yvxJNDdSr8liemmQdq6q6RcVcOulgxf6v-FjgjkbdwmxA9sL5uD507MRN1EtILzhb7MIcgVzoYsGw006GFCOzHjpqEAXFC8M3m-_JjSlfQOGsNB4L9W/s320/first+triangle+crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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First weigh your spun yarn - I had 200g.</div>
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Cast on 3 stitches.</div>
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Increase by one stitch at the beginning of each row. Continue until you have used 10th of you yarn. In this case I knitted 20g.</div>
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Measure the sides of the triangle - cm. You will be able to knit a strip/scarf that is 10 times as long as the side of the triangle you have knitted.</div>
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From now on increase a stitch at the beginning of the next row, decrease one stitch at the beginning of the following row. Continue in this way until you have the same weight of yarn that it took to knit the first triangle.</div>
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Decrease at the beginning of every following row until only 3 sts remain. Knit all three together to cast off.</div>
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Your project doesn't have to be all KNIT stitches! Here is a scarf knitted (yet to be pressed) for my dear friend Sue Bryce.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqh5RzMM22ClGPS2IThtoiCVf6CRe9GsUYcO26CiVs1YVmERd0LMFqRNDESYBNf_gyCZQlvkOd3Tln-3M0Sg8dKlPdj5S-62x1_XfraIPIfBVd5QRrfy0tCyBp_hujLvp_OFFwJdQ9jAx/s1600/Brown+2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="1497" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqh5RzMM22ClGPS2IThtoiCVf6CRe9GsUYcO26CiVs1YVmERd0LMFqRNDESYBNf_gyCZQlvkOd3Tln-3M0Sg8dKlPdj5S-62x1_XfraIPIfBVd5QRrfy0tCyBp_hujLvp_OFFwJdQ9jAx/s320/Brown+2B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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To keep the edges tidy and straight I knitted the first 5 stitches of each row, using purl in a random number of rows to create some texture. Well, I say random, I usually use the fibonacci sequence of numbers when I am 'designing'.</div>
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Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-9110188704795156852018-02-11T16:13:00.003+00:002018-02-19T10:01:40.588+00:00A 'Fill In Project<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><u>A 'FILL IN' PROJECT</u></b></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHBVI6dZX2GA6Y4cp1WpSa9C55JxiJhaS02kcNEznMkDgJfd_29T_ROs3psNxJuikdIbg1OkWrRwfcZbmSpJLP5v4MFA54ApVk6MVZ_8-7BCB1hTpgWGLK1j4KKujwumirxJlQf9IY5El/s1600/2+BATTS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHBVI6dZX2GA6Y4cp1WpSa9C55JxiJhaS02kcNEznMkDgJfd_29T_ROs3psNxJuikdIbg1OkWrRwfcZbmSpJLP5v4MFA54ApVk6MVZ_8-7BCB1hTpgWGLK1j4KKujwumirxJlQf9IY5El/s320/2+BATTS.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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With time to spare, but waiting for some more fibre to continue spinning some yarn for a weaving project, I turned to my stash.<br />
I was hoping to find an unspun hand dyed roving but finding non I turned instead to some batts I had made for sale. I decided to try some fractal spinning.<br />
Fractal spinning is a fancy name for a particular way to divide up your coloured fibre for spinning.<br />
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I divided each batt into its component colours. The first I spun in the order it was in the original batt, navy, blues, lime and green.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlH16i_LTAHl7ey-KB0TgolbCr77TG_qzGjdkY4lyHHAuerWUy2HJqRQXwSZUwxfOnyfl-DKghS0LhN5w2VC7IQTDyZavowMY5OkjY-YFYfR7Li-ZKxBf6c6SEhd_k7oYjxBTHPYzuObL/s1600/INDIVIDUAL+COLOURS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlH16i_LTAHl7ey-KB0TgolbCr77TG_qzGjdkY4lyHHAuerWUy2HJqRQXwSZUwxfOnyfl-DKghS0LhN5w2VC7IQTDyZavowMY5OkjY-YFYfR7Li-ZKxBf6c6SEhd_k7oYjxBTHPYzuObL/s200/INDIVIDUAL+COLOURS.JPG" width="177" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGrMmpTj__fl8j8XEY76_j_yWA4JTypc653QGGw7hKCXXXmkI3p1-zjJsUt0xbkp9klCrQUAohFq1s_-iQ-vcgt35RHmiqozh9syaDLWTitpPB1LQHRCz6Jgcw2ZPI7I78QGUZxUu2ZkC/s1600/Batts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="1600" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGrMmpTj__fl8j8XEY76_j_yWA4JTypc653QGGw7hKCXXXmkI3p1-zjJsUt0xbkp9klCrQUAohFq1s_-iQ-vcgt35RHmiqozh9syaDLWTitpPB1LQHRCz6Jgcw2ZPI7I78QGUZxUu2ZkC/s200/Batts.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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The second batt I divided further, each colour in half. (12.5 g each)The second half of each colour I divided in half again. (6.25g each)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4ytKmy7HvWN93yY8I_BN42QtfC2ZiqSbd3XeuhyphenhyphenPesf3ZVvtYXBUKSGdC7Z4YwmERKW5QuFz_mswLmhmSGoTs3hxzTWxJT-flmytokAYkT_EZ8iOtxyqGCF2UdyeEBsor4VVnCo_R-0F/s1600/FIBRE+ONE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4ytKmy7HvWN93yY8I_BN42QtfC2ZiqSbd3XeuhyphenhyphenPesf3ZVvtYXBUKSGdC7Z4YwmERKW5QuFz_mswLmhmSGoTs3hxzTWxJT-flmytokAYkT_EZ8iOtxyqGCF2UdyeEBsor4VVnCo_R-0F/s320/FIBRE+ONE.JPG" width="248" /></a></div>
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I began spinning the four individual colours on one bobbin. (Unfortunately I didn't take a photo)</div>
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on a second bobin I spun the 12.5 g of each of the colours in the same order as before. After which I spun 6.5 gram of each followed by the remaining fibre.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBDdM9qQNqGaPrvKJxSEwbNqe0GR4X-rT0P5T5nOGdVdlQldndxddjvABGU_Zj3t00-xtf_yYv-dDI45Jlx6AUHnpADT99fJ_WeLUBPFL8y1gK4SEJRRllEjBkpvT5hSoV_CpHyq8S65A/s1600/SKEINS+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1390" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBDdM9qQNqGaPrvKJxSEwbNqe0GR4X-rT0P5T5nOGdVdlQldndxddjvABGU_Zj3t00-xtf_yYv-dDI45Jlx6AUHnpADT99fJ_WeLUBPFL8y1gK4SEJRRllEjBkpvT5hSoV_CpHyq8S65A/s320/SKEINS+2.JPG" width="278" /></a></div>
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With all the 'singles' spun I began to ply them together, intending there to be 2 skeins of 100g.</div>
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Part way through this process some small visitors, attracted to my spinning wheel and its interesting mechanical possibilities, broke the yarn, but no harm was done. So, the first 100g skein became 2 skeins, those at the top of the photo. </div>
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Today I have wound the washed skeins, hoping I have the colour sequence correct, into three nice, squishy centre pull balls ready for knitting.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVUtrtc3q37yrdHeuSHxc6FTHOG0JYccXY7jbRRTaMdV-SXv9H3s2NjzXsU-FhUHDWiZ1xuMsTff6h5NmoGU_h4TjkeDt4TF9pewPKsnWNES8TGsbb6mjeET8vc8EnA6j_ZXTitVnSqUM/s1600/PLIED+BALLS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="723" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVUtrtc3q37yrdHeuSHxc6FTHOG0JYccXY7jbRRTaMdV-SXv9H3s2NjzXsU-FhUHDWiZ1xuMsTff6h5NmoGU_h4TjkeDt4TF9pewPKsnWNES8TGsbb6mjeET8vc8EnA6j_ZXTitVnSqUM/s320/PLIED+BALLS.JPG" width="144" /></a></div>
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<br />Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-65503480976293024122017-08-21T14:33:00.000+01:002019-05-22T11:32:28.235+01:00Making Space<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>There's never enough space in the workroom!</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Make an Inspirational display</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Things get moved to enable me to find something or work on a new project and the materials are all mixed up again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> I have thought of a way to make space and decorate my work room at the same time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have some chrome grid panels that are usually used to display items for sale at craft fairs and other events. In semi-retirement they are rarely used and have been hanging on hooks from the ceiling of my workshop. I have decided to make use of them. The grids are now on one side of my workshop and have skeins of yarn hanging on them, adding colour to my workspace instead of being stored in plastic boxes on shelves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hopefully, the colours will provide inspiration for new projects, a reminder that they exist and even ways to make use of all these handspun and hand dyed yarns that I have created over the past ..? years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ALVp3NF1OAVRDbnZpUED91J4_WCq7II5BCDdE_RImalcmC8rd_60UCyhZdv47rb9aGPZFJaupmAMWG92hElG1ElaJHlPyTriD3V80LUYXMUV2HFr3tlpe2DeuTRM889CXx_8OJzruzdw/s1600/INSPIRATION+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1007" data-original-width="1600" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ALVp3NF1OAVRDbnZpUED91J4_WCq7II5BCDdE_RImalcmC8rd_60UCyhZdv47rb9aGPZFJaupmAMWG92hElG1ElaJHlPyTriD3V80LUYXMUV2HFr3tlpe2DeuTRM889CXx_8OJzruzdw/s640/INSPIRATION+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also have a large pinboard next to where the skeins are hanging and I have made a 'collage' of fabrics, sample skeins and pictures that I have collected over the years, some from Association WSD calendars, others from magazines or my own photos.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqgD9cCvzL90Fsx4n1KqRLkItFog3LYSW_OxsLMZx0ZwURxXoUY9Jz6WykWZdQRcnKx1WrRtDQ8fgrSPK-Nv83-Jm5VdNyd5D5SaMuPiqOLkeRDVx_wz-hMTi0gIJFUVlW3mo5-WZtJBk/s1600/INSPIRATION+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcgi19wBD_ftXaC7KDOVU0MYcgYggPh-vbOjMhREhL7LPcRHkR9e18Tg5OTsATkucGXs-UbDG-VMGBiQPvLC-42t0PBNCnfrVojnpDXoV41eD3RrsHIG_gH69CHPTZHtoZ4uDJbPeco-S/s1600/INSPIRATION+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1255" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcgi19wBD_ftXaC7KDOVU0MYcgYggPh-vbOjMhREhL7LPcRHkR9e18Tg5OTsATkucGXs-UbDG-VMGBiQPvLC-42t0PBNCnfrVojnpDXoV41eD3RrsHIG_gH69CHPTZHtoZ4uDJbPeco-S/s400/INSPIRATION+3.jpg" width="312" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqgD9cCvzL90Fsx4n1KqRLkItFog3LYSW_OxsLMZx0ZwURxXoUY9Jz6WykWZdQRcnKx1WrRtDQ8fgrSPK-Nv83-Jm5VdNyd5D5SaMuPiqOLkeRDVx_wz-hMTi0gIJFUVlW3mo5-WZtJBk/s1600/INSPIRATION+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1180" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqgD9cCvzL90Fsx4n1KqRLkItFog3LYSW_OxsLMZx0ZwURxXoUY9Jz6WykWZdQRcnKx1WrRtDQ8fgrSPK-Nv83-Jm5VdNyd5D5SaMuPiqOLkeRDVx_wz-hMTi0gIJFUVlW3mo5-WZtJBk/s400/INSPIRATION+2.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-45933353095810607962017-08-14T15:58:00.001+01:002017-11-26T11:42:43.700+00:00WHICH HEDDLE? - Rigid Heddle or 4 shaft looms -Calculating warp and weft<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Many more people are beginning to weave thanks to the new rigid heddle/knitters looms. Great, attractive pieces are being woven by beginner weavers and I think this is wonderful! I have enjoyed the craft for many years but previously rigid heddle looms were not as attractive or portable as they are now and the implication was that you need to use specialised weaving yarns to produce anything worthwhile. That is certainly not so and the choice of yarns is extensive and inspiring.<br />
But one factor in the success of a project can still be overlooked and that is the use of the correct heddle for the project and result required. Most yarns are expensive and it is a shame to waste yarn and your time, as well as being so disappointed that you never want to weave again, as happened to a friend of mine just a few months ago!<br />
I am happy to say that she has resumed weaving and is making successful progress.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubWs1LPwmL1N-U1OyFUd7D1K4vTE9h9PZAGpkom92zD18ul4FzwX5BOvoZTK0hMqRCily3txFiZL_ioYPowJqE-Ut7FCEVjFrKYAes-hP0SCRaRNmRzU4i9n0Tsy6yar-pODU7K9CvQ8M/s1600/Shetland+wraps+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1179" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubWs1LPwmL1N-U1OyFUd7D1K4vTE9h9PZAGpkom92zD18ul4FzwX5BOvoZTK0hMqRCily3txFiZL_ioYPowJqE-Ut7FCEVjFrKYAes-hP0SCRaRNmRzU4i9n0Tsy6yar-pODU7K9CvQ8M/s320/Shetland+wraps+2.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
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Some time ago I damaged one of my tape measures but I chose not to throw it away! I soon found a use for it. While I was sorting through my stash of woollen weaving yarns I decided to store them according to their character and thickness. I stapled lengths onto pieces of card and wrapped each yarn around a 2" length, at the same time as recording the number of wraps per inch on the card I wrote, where available, the manufactures yarn specification.Wrap the yarn so each wrap lays side by side with the one before, without cramming or over crowding each other.<br />
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To be most accurate it is a good idea to do this over a 2" length.<br />
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The Shetland style yarn samples above which wrap 20 times to the inch. If they were to be woven with each other as warp stripes or one warp and weft in a typical plain/tabby weave (over one under one, over one under one, all the way across the warp,) would be suitable for a 10 dent (threads per inch) heddle whether on a Rigid Heddle loom or one with multiple shafts.That is half the number of wraps per inch<br />
The reason for this calculation is that the space between the warp threads is the diameter of the weft yarn and so gives it room so it doesn't distort the woven cloth.<br />
It also means that the weaver should be passing the shuttle of weft yarn 10 times from side to side to produce one inch of woven fabric, thus creating a 'balanced' cloth where, on the face of the fabric the length of each yarn, warp and/or weft, showing on the surface will be the same. Look at any plain weave cloth and this should be the case.<br />
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In short, if you are using the same yarn warp and weft on a rigid heddle loom, or for a 'tabby' weave on a shaft loom, to get a balanced weave structure:-<br />
a yarn that wraps 24 times to cover an inch needs the warp to have 12 threads per inch and be woven with a 12 dent heddle (reed on a shaft loom).<br />
24 wraps per inch = 12 dent heddle<br />
20 wraps per inch = 10 dent heddle<br />
16 wraps per inch = 8 dent heddle<br />
15 wraps per inch = 7.5 heddle, and so on.<br />
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If you intend to use one yarn for the warp and something different for the weft, it is best to wrap them both alternately, as shown on the next sample.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNFNeZ4U_QlHxnBJULBTX3A3OJTZ4pGBubCn_2TonfpLuxUeX8CLk-6dWk8MolUy_nPp9K3Y4qWl-663NjhD4Fc1HPDB1BlQyKdfbQddlYUgYS4bQpxq5ODtUhDYW6yDFi3qx6KcYfTAp/s1600/BROWN+TWEED+wraps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1600" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNFNeZ4U_QlHxnBJULBTX3A3OJTZ4pGBubCn_2TonfpLuxUeX8CLk-6dWk8MolUy_nPp9K3Y4qWl-663NjhD4Fc1HPDB1BlQyKdfbQddlYUgYS4bQpxq5ODtUhDYW6yDFi3qx6KcYfTAp/s400/BROWN+TWEED+wraps.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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When using the brown as the warp with a thicker, slightly slubby yarn for the weft further wraps had to be produced to be sure of success in the woven fabric. The photo here shows that 8 brown warp ends to the inch would be appropriate for a tabby weave. Using 2 different yarns or colours of the same yarn alternately makes the task of counting the wraps per inch for the warp much easier. (It can be frustrating when you lose count and have to do it over again!)<br />
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In fact I decided to weave a twill cloth with brown warp and lighter tweedy weft. In a regular twill weave the weft passes through the warp after 2 threads/ends. This means calculations are slightly different. Two wraps of warp yarn are followed by one of the weft. As you can see from the photograph this meant I needed 12 wraps/ends of brown shetland per inch width of cloth. A 12 dent heddle was needed for this cloth.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQKv55p9EzJ5_wUR4tJUKIZnwVapkXyK8BFf_P0HifVO1wxm5ilni-gNXBp8g8YYDWwKXGRiq4bUCaMmMmJHFwKw0oN8-UvWEjOJkXTlXDbhD3RnOQcqWIWRW0j6lgLV5N000Xm9FRFpV/s1600/BROWN+TWILL.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQKv55p9EzJ5_wUR4tJUKIZnwVapkXyK8BFf_P0HifVO1wxm5ilni-gNXBp8g8YYDWwKXGRiq4bUCaMmMmJHFwKw0oN8-UvWEjOJkXTlXDbhD3RnOQcqWIWRW0j6lgLV5N000Xm9FRFpV/s320/BROWN+TWILL.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><u>Balanced Tabby Weave </u></b><br />
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The following examples are woven in Tabby - over and under alternate threads. The red is handspun wool yarn used both warp and weft. The following 2 are wild silk, both using the same unplied wild silk yarn. The checks were created with a warp, two threads of each colour in turn in both warp and weft. The third sample is log cabin. ( See my blog article - <span style="font-size: x-small;">PREPARING TO WARP YOUR LOOM </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">also 'The Next Steps</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">.')</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span>I think you can see that the weaves are balanced.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEZiU-LZykTuv8PLeoxiTTbDi6T0Nqr7eJsanKTUTDepzrcsXb_2O5vQ3FyT6dzkUkp3sHfyxIYaS3Wow3yzevAuCjIW5nI6aGyFrm8pLkZIafLJ8vz37MCgXb2lMoUUS3Lt0wgG8EXHD/s1600/RED+TABBY+SCARF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEZiU-LZykTuv8PLeoxiTTbDi6T0Nqr7eJsanKTUTDepzrcsXb_2O5vQ3FyT6dzkUkp3sHfyxIYaS3Wow3yzevAuCjIW5nI6aGyFrm8pLkZIafLJ8vz37MCgXb2lMoUUS3Lt0wgG8EXHD/s400/RED+TABBY+SCARF.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Jpr-yEEUyCJJleCptCUDa0dpoRG9SH2SpwIkCBpwq3mmjAvGup506SPHFn1r0ALNpYX12hz7zj0Dy7irgPOwrWz4jaQb2et_q9l9u1GgEwzDsO1_omAw7w3i3r-nIF3s26vrVa_ol8wx/s1600/SILK+SCARF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="1372" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Jpr-yEEUyCJJleCptCUDa0dpoRG9SH2SpwIkCBpwq3mmjAvGup506SPHFn1r0ALNpYX12hz7zj0Dy7irgPOwrWz4jaQb2et_q9l9u1GgEwzDsO1_omAw7w3i3r-nIF3s26vrVa_ol8wx/s400/SILK+SCARF.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAAptPDCoBYyzlsGbvZbL3PcVOmNHuk9h09VdZKJjhVsuU64hWcU0tRqXF9CEjGRIMKconzsMn-q7Iyf7eA7Q7tgKqW0AlRXJu8d9PT9GJja50P-yX9F_lliUwgTxzYZ9WiP4t-XO_igf/s1600/LOG+CABIN+SILK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="1600" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAAptPDCoBYyzlsGbvZbL3PcVOmNHuk9h09VdZKJjhVsuU64hWcU0tRqXF9CEjGRIMKconzsMn-q7Iyf7eA7Q7tgKqW0AlRXJu8d9PT9GJja50P-yX9F_lliUwgTxzYZ9WiP4t-XO_igf/s400/LOG+CABIN+SILK.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>What does this mean to the weaver planning a project? </b><br />
<b> </b>If the space between warps threads is too great the weft yarn beats down to cover more of the warp than expected and the weft yarn will dominate the cloth rather than it being balanced, showing warp and weft yarns equally. Also, more weft yarn will be needed to complete the length of cloth!<br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"> This is the yarn for my latest project, still on the loom.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgJarG3gscsARx_q9AOABtmhTakSOVCLHmLJsjIROcupQJpl4srcByaPVaBJ_X2CjRdIIsY2nIsJhityCuYhChhHteAU8nsCPC2j8gbWgiVD3R1esR1jOB8OWqP-vhbM6qQX9HvJ0oxN0/s1600/TWEED+wraps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1183" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgJarG3gscsARx_q9AOABtmhTakSOVCLHmLJsjIROcupQJpl4srcByaPVaBJ_X2CjRdIIsY2nIsJhityCuYhChhHteAU8nsCPC2j8gbWgiVD3R1esR1jOB8OWqP-vhbM6qQX9HvJ0oxN0/s320/TWEED+wraps.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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The photograph shows that the warp yarn is much thinner than the weft but the finished fabric will still be a balanced twill - hopefully! Watch this space.</div>
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<br />Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-23663773232108135062017-07-03T10:11:00.000+01:002017-07-03T10:11:16.938+01:00Oldest Loom Still Working<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On holiday in Totnes, Devon, last year we saw an old loom through the museum window. Sadly, the museum wasn't open that day.</div>
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This year I was able to visit the museum and look more closely at the ancient loom, believed to be the oldest still around and 'working'.</div>
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From the year 1600 or thereabouts, the wood is black and it's age shows in the gnarled surface but the loom can still be operated - with care. With only 2 shafts it would have been used to weave the simplest of cloth.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fn5Avh7JZ5MThNus3hwvBA-VVtifk7QeAw-KJ9TNkb_VypZtizI7TP_djoOloo0LvLIgPrsXmMaj7JZHf-105BXok6kQNSgvUqjZGAOOCxwPm2F4xwf7lW8rHz4_o_-e2EmaQHpYbuvJ/s1600/1600LOOM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fn5Avh7JZ5MThNus3hwvBA-VVtifk7QeAw-KJ9TNkb_VypZtizI7TP_djoOloo0LvLIgPrsXmMaj7JZHf-105BXok6kQNSgvUqjZGAOOCxwPm2F4xwf7lW8rHz4_o_-e2EmaQHpYbuvJ/s320/1600LOOM.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"> I was interested to see that the reed had been constructed to allow double the number of selvedge threads to be threaded individually, although, the reed is not the same width as the maximum possible for the size of loom.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WNrKDgoKARg-QFl5PhZgp-zp6Vh2Ofa2QX2wvY8x1VBoe558RK9ozNVdBXJeU09Y4hRlR7CaeVP7F0VvysfD2ilAE7MedVN4IVYnoDHk8NtAUPA2xFPku4kTllNoOm2OamHY9NAjuKil/s1600/IMG_1043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WNrKDgoKARg-QFl5PhZgp-zp6Vh2Ofa2QX2wvY8x1VBoe558RK9ozNVdBXJeU09Y4hRlR7CaeVP7F0VvysfD2ilAE7MedVN4IVYnoDHk8NtAUPA2xFPku4kTllNoOm2OamHY9NAjuKil/s320/IMG_1043.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-t9A6sQzz-xPKWaGK9WEQug7rnauvUUNld3nEiSSrPpMBdHicndSsBBjUQdOpYvLWYvM4-vfZXLEiUoaQZ41RcDIi7iY9rcNXLB6q7h_rHKAQSJDmM2GnVGyyNx2l4YbFmeytbuUcAQu/s1600/IMG_1046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-t9A6sQzz-xPKWaGK9WEQug7rnauvUUNld3nEiSSrPpMBdHicndSsBBjUQdOpYvLWYvM4-vfZXLEiUoaQZ41RcDIi7iY9rcNXLB6q7h_rHKAQSJDmM2GnVGyyNx2l4YbFmeytbuUcAQu/s320/IMG_1046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The other thing that caught my attention was the eyelets in the heddles. They are quite thick, made of metal, fixed to the heddle frame with cord.</div>
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The museum had interesting information on the Totnes wool trade which<i> 'developed early and by 1253 its 'russet' manufacture provided a cover for the King's bed. Export trade expanded with the development of 'straights', a poor cloth made from short coarse wool not good enough for the standard English broadcloth. In tudor times merchants turned to the manufacture of 'kerseys' of much better quality.' Dyes became more varied, to the reds and russets made from madder, browns and reds from lichens, three shades of blue were added using woad.</i></div>
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<i> Merchants arranged the distribution of wool to the spinners and weavers were employed working in their own homes. Fulling (finishing) of the cloth was done by 'tuckers' in their little mills. To remove loose material and secure an even surface, the cloth was stretched on tenterhooks. This was done in public places to avoid trickery in increasing the yardage.</i></div>
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<i> By about 1700, serges were the chief fabrics produced in Devon but the great days of the Devon cloth trade were already on the decline which was hastened by the use of machinery.'</i></div>
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<i> </i> This information has prompted me to research the terms used - straights, kerseys, tuckers. I will post more of this later, I hope.</div>
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<br />Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-75434322085398644272017-06-20T10:24:00.002+01:002017-06-20T10:24:57.863+01:00Weaving with Alpaca<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u> First attempts at Weaving with Alpaca</u></b></span></div>
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Some time ago I was contacted by Jo, a lady who keeps alpacas, to say that she had some cones of alpaca yarn that Bedfordshire Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers might be interested in.<br />
I went to look at the boxes, 15 in all, of yarn on cones. It was so obviously weaving yarn and in six colours and two thicknesses, the bulk being singles yarn.<br />
I made contact with the groups from the Association WSD in counties around Bedfordshire and managed to sell approximately 50% of the cones. People were thrilled to get the chance to use alpaca yarn at such a reasonable price. Most of the photos in the montage are of fabrics or scarves woven by Cambridge guild members and they show some of the diverse colour and weave patterns that can achieved without having a multi shaft loom.<br />
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As soon as I had the chance to set up my floor loom I wove fabric with the plied yarn (centre picture) intended for a garden rug. One that I could hopefully sit on without the discomfort of being irritated because my skin does not like wool. I also set up my 8 shaft table loom with a sample point twill weave warp from the singles. (Sample bottom centre). When both were completed I did as always had been my habit and put the fabric in the washing machine on a 30deg. wool wash. The singles sample came out fine but the plied yarn fabric was shedding and my utility room floor looked as though we'd had a snow storm!<br />
Worried about having passed on so much of this yarn to friends and acquaintances I contacted members of Cambridge Guild. They were concerned about my results but those who had already woven with the yarn, mainly the singles, had hand washed the fabric without detrimental effects. I was relieved because I saw myself dolling out refunds! To date, only one person has asked for a refund because one of her yarns was shredding in her rigid heddle loom heddles.<br />
<br />Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031764788383729717.post-50053646574448747402017-02-26T10:21:00.000+00:002017-03-01T10:02:11.421+00:00Hand spun Self striping Yarn<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Handspun Socks</u></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are a spinner and sock knitter, then why not combine the two?</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Planning your project.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">1.
<b>First, choose your fibre</b>, pure wool, wool and synthetic fibre blend, or
man-made vegetable fibre. There are several appropriate fibres from which to
choose. Each has their merits. My samples are 75% merino or wool and 25% nylon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Taking
a close look at sock yarn shows it to be quite round and have many twists per
inch. These features ensure long lasting, even wear with little pilling but the
yarn is still fairly ‘lofty’ and comfortably soft. Un-dyed yarn bought for the
purpose of dyeing may not at first seem as ‘nice’ as commercial yarns but it
‘fulls’ and softens in the dyeing and washing process, as does hand-spun. Both
will shrink a little in length.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>2.
Spin your yarn</b>. You will need to decide whether you are to make one large skein
of 100g or 2 of 50g. I would suggest two of the same weight, to be dyed in the same sequence so they match.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">If
you prefer woollen spun from the fleece you may find a breed that makes good
sock yarn without any added supplementary fibre. Or, you may decide
to add a synthetic fibre to increase the wear and life of your yarn. In this
case, to produce a yarn that wears evenly depends upon the careful measurement
of proportions of each fibre in the rolags.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I spun 2 50g
skeins of semi-worsted 2 ply yarn with 9 twists per inch and 9 wraps per inch<i>. (See pic. blue and brown socks)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> Once spun, as I used commercial tops and intended to dye with acid dyes, scouring was
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> <b>3. Tension swatch</b>. When the yarn was
dry and wound into centre pull balls I knitted a tension square. After 3 trials
I decided that 3.25mm needles gave me the fabric I wanted with 24 sts in 4”
width; 6 sts per inch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">4. Sock tube
trial</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">. As the widest part of me foot is 9” round I cast 54 sts on 3 dpns and
knitted a circular sampler to try around my foot. The first was too big, so I
reduced the number of stitches by 10% and tried again – success.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> To calculate the length of yarn needed
for each row of socks. After the cast on and one row of knitting I marked the
yarn at the beginning of the next row by tying in a short length of another
yarn. Then I knitted 20 rows and marked the yarn again. After which I undid the
knitting, measured the length of yarn taken for 20 rows and divided by 20 to
give me the length of yarn needed for each row. This helped me to find the
correct distance apart to put the skeining posts. (See previous blog for skeining & dyeing instructions.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> I realise that there may be some difference when the yarn has been dyed but I'm not sure how one can make allowances for this!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> Once the above calculations had been made, again, the big decisions, dye colours to use, width of stripes - all equal or varying?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> I’m not exactly
sure how much yarn is used in the heel of a sock so I wasn’t sure how far the
hand-spun yarn would go so I decided to knit them toe up, because the length of the leg section was not so important to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The finished socks</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6bUg8z8_68HNKE8VmOZ6x4KH4i3Vg_PeQKi8AJsvIgsFuo07C8bVFzoBnZR8AF_mXECEtglWAUTEWHJd641c7cUmRheFinpzl8ZyWdT-dAJS2HHMyOpVyLdGqnqSCQgYKrY-KNOTqDCA/s1600/gauntlets+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6bUg8z8_68HNKE8VmOZ6x4KH4i3Vg_PeQKi8AJsvIgsFuo07C8bVFzoBnZR8AF_mXECEtglWAUTEWHJd641c7cUmRheFinpzl8ZyWdT-dAJS2HHMyOpVyLdGqnqSCQgYKrY-KNOTqDCA/s320/gauntlets+2.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gauntlets for a friend.</span></div>
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<br />Crafty Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553969303378039631noreply@blogger.com2