Welcome to Fiber Arts Friday! Each week Fiber Artists from around the world meet here to share their adventures in Fiber Arts. So...what are you waiting for? Link your Fiber Arts Blog in and share in the fun. If you visit, please leave a comment and join the Fiber Arts Fun!How did we get to April? I just don't know where the last few months have gone. Well, here on the farm the warmer weather and April rain (and sometimes spitting snow) is starting to green up the pasture. In just a few weeks we will be shearing our herd. Now that it is warmer, I am starting to Certified Sort fleeces from other farms. My goal is to finish my apprenticeship by the end of this shearing season. In the meantime I have been enjoying the last few evenings relaxing with my spinning wheel and loom since Grumpy and the Bears have been at Hunter's Safety Class. I don't have any photos of my newest yarns (I promise I will for next week) but here is the beginnings of the first towel I am weaving. As you can see I went with the Pumpkin Orange (did that really surprise you?) and yellow. Two colors for the first one.
Typically towels are 12x18 and since my Cricket is just that wide, my towel will be a bit narrow after the shrinkage. I am curious how this will turn out. I warped enough yarn to allow myself two towels which I plan to use two different techniques on. This first one, I am using the Leno Lace Finger Weaving technique in the yellow stripe. I'm not sure if I like how it's turning out on with this yarn. I thought it was really sassy on my test/practice cotton. I'll make my final decision once it's off the loom. Regardless, I love how the weaving cotton feels. I thought using a finer yarn would be more tedious but the worst and most time consuming part was the warp (I've including a couple of photos show the warping progress) and that really wasn't all that bad. True, I am using a very simple weaving technique but still...not too bad at all.
I am also working on my very special knitting project during lunch at work and it's coming along beautifully. Heather may have a hard time getting her knitted gift since most of my co-workers are trying to make dibs on the cowl. Do I hear charity fundraiser? Just maybe. I've decided to wait a bit longer before I post photos of that. Hey, don't pout like that. I am sharing my weaving ;-) By the way, Sister Bear passed Hunter's Safety so she'll be Turkey hunting with Grumpy this Spring. Now...share your adventures in fiber arts this week.
Fiber Arts Friday Blog Carnival!
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Are the towels out of cotton? I really should learn more about weaving, the idea of having 2 projects going on 1 loom facinates me.
ReplyDeleteOoo, I like the idea of a charity knit at work. We do a lot of office raffles for United Way and I bet knit items would do real well.
Weaving looks so fun, but the setting up of the loom, not so much. I love the colours you have chosen for your towel. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.
ReplyDeleteYou know I'm loving the color of your new towels, Miss Andrea!!
ReplyDelete...and I'm salivating over my 'in peril' cowel!! Har!! XXOO-
Lindsay - it's a 3/2 Mercerized Perle Cotton
ReplyDeleteHeather - It's a fun knit, you are going to love it!
Congratulations to Sister Bear. Not too many things better than sitting in the woods with your Dad waiting for that big fat turkey to come along. I like your choice of colors for the dish towel. Looking forward to seeing you work through the process. Happy Fiber Arts Friday!
ReplyDeleteI always wanted to weave, but there just aren't enough hours in the day to do everything you want to do.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a wonderful weekend Andrea:)
ReplyDeleteAck, stop showing the beautiful weaving projects, you're making me want a loom!!! ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's looking great, I can't wait to see the finished results!
Jess
Ya, I'm starting to think I need to get a little loom for myself!
ReplyDeleteStop showing me weaving! Or I'm going to end up with a new loom :)
ReplyDeleteLove the colors in the towel - pumpkin orange is an all-time favorite of mine.
Totally not surprised you went with the pumpkin color! I'm eager to see how it turns out.
ReplyDeleteI am still mystified by the idea of weaving towels and knitting washclothes. It seems like a lot of work to put into something that will be abused.
ReplyDeleteI do like the pumpkin and yellow together.
Of course, love the pumpkin color - and it seems to be weaving up quite nicely. I don't know if I could rip it all out once it was off the loom if I didn't like it. And congrats to Sister Bear! Now, will you hunt for your own turkey this Thanksgiving?
ReplyDeleteBtw, thanks on the cable comment. They are plenty sassy, aren't they? Once you get around to them, you'll see they are also super easy, and wonder why you hadn't done them before. :)
Have a great Fiber Arts Friday!
Turkey hunting, really? Good for you!
ReplyDeleteI am also impressed that you are certified sorting...I definitely see the reason and the need...but oh is it tedious. We are having Marcee Stephenson come for our shearing and sort for us next week, yikes, I better get ready!
The color combination for your towel is very nice, reminds me of your blog ;-) I'm amazed how much Fiber Arts Friday has grown week after week. Thank you for your amazing work!
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed by the towel-making and like the color combination very much.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting Fiber Arts Friday!
So... has anyone thought about spinning Scottish Highlander hair? (see my post)
ReplyDeleteWhat pretty towels those will be!
ReplyDeleteAnd there I go missing my loom. I sometimes hate being a military spouse. Having to leave yarn and equipment back on the mainland sucks!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful colors Andrea! You are a pro at weaving now!
ReplyDelete