I guess it's time to update my blog to show some of what has been keeping me busy. I'll start where I left off. Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival began with a cloudy, rainy morning. Nature was kind and it stopped raining in the afternoon which made it easier to walk around and see all of the goodies without navigating around umbrellas. I had a great time, only purchased what I "needed" :-), and enjoyed the company of friends and good food.
Now on to what's been keeping me busy...
Imagine the sound of a shuttle being thrown and the rhythm of the beater and shafts -- yes, I've been weaving! My looms have been silent for far too long. This year was supposed to be the year that I focus on improving my weaving skills but somehow cross stitch took over and alas, this is the first weaving project of 2009. The warp and weft is 10/2 organic cotton (I used 20/2 for the hems) destined to become face cloths. Here's what it looks like now...
They feel soooooo good. I ended up with five towels, it was supposed to be six but a broken warp thread happened right after weaving the hem of one of the towels. I knotted the thread and wove in an extra seperator past the knot which meant I ended up with more loom waste than I'd allowed for. I'm very pleased with how they turned out and If time permits, I'll wind the warp for the bath towels over the holiday weekend.
My wool project is the Lily of the Valley scarf from Nancy Bush's Knitted Lace of Estonia. A couple of years ago I purchased a CVM/Ramboullet fleece, the ewe was named LOCO (that's a whole 'nother story) I always said that I would use the wool for a lace shawl and a scarf. I'm finally making good on that. Here's the bag of carded wool
Here's the spun yarn
I started knitting last night and I already know that I'm going to enjoy this project. I spun up a total of 475 yards at 16 wpi, that will make for a scarf that has a little bit more weight to it than if I'd spun it finer.
in my last post I said that cross stitch would resume...It has.
This is a corner of a biscornu. I really thought I would have been finished by now, I suppose I would have if I hadn't inserted the weaving and the spinning projects :-) I also underestimated the time it would take to work the many spider web roses that's required in this piece (and the french knots). This is my current cross stitch project and I'm enjoying stitching it so the next time you see it, it will be completed.
Have a great holiday weekend, stay safe, and remember our service men and women.
You have the COOLEST hobbies!!!!
Posted by: Barbara | May 22, 2009 at 02:19 PM
How awesome, to weave! Wonderful work and love the stitching progress!!
Posted by: CindyMae | May 22, 2009 at 05:10 PM
Very nice! I can't wait to touch those towels in person!!!
I bet that Loco yarn feels lovely.
Posted by: Lizzy B | May 22, 2009 at 09:15 PM
I always enjoy reading your blog Vee, and the way you write, and your beautiful photos, are ever inspiring. These are all such wonderful projects! I look forward to seeing your biscournu finished and your scarf too! Happy Memorial Day!
Posted by: Nancy | May 23, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Wow, these towels look so delicate and I'm sure they are. What a great new hobby.
Looking forward to seeing your biscornu finished. This one corner looks very promising.
Posted by: Brigitte | May 25, 2009 at 12:47 PM
How wonderful to be able to weave. Your projects are just divine. You are one talented lady.
Posted by: Andrea | May 25, 2009 at 12:52 PM
The weaving is beautiful! Is it a striped warp or is that the texture of the pattern? It almost looks ribbed. Very pretty.
Posted by: Charleen | May 29, 2009 at 08:00 PM
Vee,
What interesting projects you are having!I liked to watch my grandmother weaving, she also made nice soft towels.
The biscornu is going to be very pretty, it is a lot of work there but it will be worth every second you spend on it.
Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Olenka's Stitches | June 04, 2009 at 06:13 PM
Okay, wow. You not only weave. You raised the sheep, sheered the wool, washed and carded it, spun it into yarn and then knitted with it. I am so in awe, they haven't even invented the words for it!
Posted by: Maren | June 17, 2009 at 12:28 AM
exquisite, as always!
Posted by: vanessa | June 19, 2009 at 01:22 PM
Oh, I really love your towels, and the carded wool..... it looks like it feels like a wooly cloud in a sunny sky. Heaven I mean. I hope to see a picture of the 'nancy bush' later.
Marion. (the netherlands)
Posted by: Marion | July 03, 2009 at 02:52 PM
I just came back a couple of weeks ago from my very first weaving class, and now I'm back to your site for inspiration. I enjoy all your posts, but now I'm especially interested in your latest weaving projects. I'm looking forward to your next post!
Posted by: Teri | November 02, 2009 at 09:22 PM