A new Obsession!
As you know, I get into all kinds of crafts. Now there's something new to share... Weaving! I got a hold of a nifty little gadget. Even though it was never used (all the little parts were still sealed in the original baggie) or assembled before me, it is over 30 years old so it is a very basic thing
This is an 8DPI Rigid Heddle Weaving loom. It has a weaving width of 25". It is considered a 2 harness loom. What ever the heck that is!
I have
no freakin clue what I am doing! I have hand loomed with Weave-It's for a long time, so the basics aren't completely foriegn to me. Has anyone ever seen "Drafts" for weaving before? It's the chart a weaver follows for the patterning.
These are so different from anything that us knitters and crocheters are used to. Theres numbers and things everywhere. Here's a draft that I found online. I feel no copyright guilt, as I got it from a public domain site.
You need a multi harness loom for this.
This is a simple chart that is written for the RH like mine.
This is a complicated one that is done on floor and table looms. They have foot pedals to play with. That's all I know about that.
So, this will truely be an adventure. I'll post often. Since I am learning this from 2 books (and nothing else. I am taking no classes or anything more that help and advice online) this may be an amusing journey!
Labels: loom, RH, weave, weaving
Sorry....It's been a while
So now I've moved on to another craft.... I have discovered weaving. Many years ago I got bunches of crates of craft stuff. Tons of goodies. Anyway, I had picked through and have had everything else stored away for years. I decided to go through it a few days ago and found these little hand looms called Weave-It's and books from the 1930's. So I had to investigate and learn. And so the addiction begins....Im soaking in everything I can, makeing many, many squares with different patterns and colors. Maybe one day I'll put them all together and have a huge blanket or something. From one of the Ravelry groups I belong to, I ended up with what I see as the next step up in learning.... it's actually made as a childs toy, however it mimics a rigid heddle loom.....which is the next step.
You may recognize the Troll doing the weaving. It's one of the Trolls that I sculpt. You can also see some Jiffy hand looms behind him. They were also in one of the crates, but I don't like them. The teeth pop out a lot and I hear they break easy. I haven't broken any teeth on them yet. I'm going to modify them some how. Maybe even take out the teeth and replace them with nice finishing nails. I'm not sure what I'll do yet.
So, I mentioned rigid heddle looms. A nice new one the size, brand and stlye I want isn't cheap. I want to expand my capabilities and skills. So now there is a new goodie on it's way to me. It's in between what I have and what I want, but still more advanced than what I have now. It will enable me to have fun and learn much more so that I will be ready for the rigid heddle loom I'm drooling over. Here's a picture of it. It's never been used or assembled, and it isn't assembled in the picture either.
I can't wait to get to play with this. It is 25" wide. Im thinking that I can bead on it tooooooo. This is a bit closer to a rigid heddle loom. Think of the fabrics that can be made.... I was watching the travel channel and they were showing folks in Africa and Peru using incredible looms, changing colors and patterns so fast you couldn't see what they were doing. And the colors!! Such talent and skill. Im so excited. I just know that I can incorporate this into my many other crafts some how.
More again soon.
Finally Friday
Lets see.... What's new today? Besides adding new items at the "store" not much on the crafting end of life. I took the day off. I got up this morning and knew it would be one of those days.
Every morning I take my kids to school. Great private school, internationally known...big tuition and no school busses for the kids in our town. WHAAAA? you say. That's right, no busses for us locals. Anyhooo. It's been cold and wet. These things don't go well with cars. Least of all mine. So, I get up and go to warm up the car while we all get ready. I couldn't get in the freaking car. Not only were the doors sealed by ice, but the inner workings of the doors were too. Once I broke through the outer shell with the help of a hairdryer I couldn't unlock the doors. Long story short, I was able to unlock the hatchback, crawl through the trunk and pop out of the back seat. Got the car started and warmed up but still couldn't get the doors unlocked. My teenaged diva daughter was refusing to go to school. "NO One is going to see me flop out of the trunk!!" said she. No way my children are going to miss school and intrude on my quiet time. "Don't want to crawl out of the trunk? Climb out the friggin window then cause you are going to school."I replied as I rolled down the window. We comprimised.....I dropped her off 1 block from school so she could gracefully climb out the window unseen. "That's better than out the trunk at the main door" Which after all her fussing and screaming is what I wanted to do. By the way...the locks thawed almost immediately after she got out..... The lesson here? You don't screw with Mom in the morning before coffee. Always be nice until the cobwebs are gone and the caffine has seeped into the bloodstream. There's another lesson here too. Don't lock your car doors in bad weather and buy lock de-icer
Now I don't think you should be mean to your your kids no matter how much they may deserve it....never have and never will. But there are just times where you can't help being a tad devious.
So, when my mornings start out like that I know my whole day won't be right. Sure enough...went to the bank for cash, bank closed due to employees attending an event. What bumblehead closes a bank in the middle of the week with no holiday for an excuse?? Then I went to pay my electric bill at a pay place instead of mailing a check...the lines were down and the machine wouldn't work for the cashier. Off to the post office to mail out some orders and realized that they were at home waiting to go to the post office...along with my wallet. So, since the first three items on the to do list were busts, I curled up with coffee and a baby project I'm working on. I did nothing else. Tomorrow must be better. Couldn't be much worse.
You really should check out this new-ish site!! Ravelry is such a wonderful place for us crafters.
There is sooooo much on this site!! I have a lot of fun there and have met lots of nice people. The features are great and I haven't seen another spot like it on the web. There is a bit of a wait to be accepted but it is well worth it. I'm putting a link in this post and on my sidebar. I can't say enough about this space.
I told you all earlier that I was setting up a new place to put all my patterns and what nots.....all business and no blog blurbs.
Well, it's up and running but I have a bunch to do. I have over 148 (I stopped counting) patterns that are my own. Some have pictures and some don't. Most are scribbled pen marks on paper with a polaroid cliped to them. What a mess.
On an unrelated note....this week I had my toy poodle bred to a great little guy. They are identicle and their pups should be tiny and very smart. It's her first litter so I am a bit nervous. She'll be okay of course, but still.... Here's the happy couple. Cute and fuzzy. The one on the left is mom. I can't wait...I love puppies! I wonder how my old english bulldog will take to babies stealing the attention?
Well everyone, it's almost 3AM. guess I should get some sleep. big day with lots of orders to work on, things to ship, teenagers to deal with, and about a dozen other things I need to do that I can't think of right now.
AS always, happy crafting
New Pattern and Product link
Hello again.
After much thought, I have decided that while I will still post some of my free patterns here...in the interest of saving space... I have created some pages that will contain no blogging, just links to patterns to download, pictures of sale patterns and descriptions, and all other craft items I sell. This will save space here and keep things much better organized.
Please check it out... I will be working very hard over the next few days adding all the stuff I have....typing and uploading...
http://specialtyhandcrafts.googlepages.com/home
More free patterns for you!!
Hi all! I have created a zip file, and the same file in doc form for you rabid knitters. This is a sock file that includes the following 3 patterns.
1. This is a Machine knitters "formula" that will enable you to create a flat sock using any yarn
with any machine. Knit a swatch, take some measurements and away you go! You will learn
short rowing and automatic wraps to prevent those annoying little holes!
2. This is a hand knitters pattern for a Basic circular sock made with 2 needles. Fun and easy for
beginners and a great jumping point to get creative if you are more advanced.
3. This is another machine knitters formula for those who are lucky enough to have a ribber
and want to knit a circular sock. This is an easy pattern to follow. Just be sure to know the
various settings for your carriages! Many interesting possiblilites.
Click here to be taken to the zip file I have uploaded onto my new patterns pages.
http://specialtyhandcrafts.googlepages.com/socks and look for Socks for Everyone.zip
I'll also be putting it up on Ravelry for all you members. There, I am known as a designer called CraftinginVT. See you there
Nasty winter night....
Hello to all
It's just one of those nights when you snuggle up in one of the many afghans you've made, turn on the tube and break out the needles. Here in my part of Vermont they decided to cancel school before 6 am knowing what was coming. Since before 10 we've had nothing but sleet!! My car is a sheet of ice. And of course the dogs always want to go out during a strong bought of cold wind and stinging icy stuff. Do they notice? NO... it's playtime. They must roll, I have to toss them snowballs. When it snows, my dogs refuse tap water and bottled water. They eat the snow like they haven't drank in days. Sometimes I wonder if they can get icecream headache? Any thoughts?
I just found out that my first grandbaby will be a girl. I have a ton of baby stuff in the works now that I know what she will be. Can't wait. Unfortuneately I can't tell you or show you any of these things untill they have been gifted to the new parents. I can however say.... Wow, how adorable they will be! Keep watching. She is due the 31 st of May. I can't wait.
Has anyone read the book "Son of a Stitch n Bitch"? It's patterns for men. I am in the process of making something for my husband and son from the book. Such cute stuff. I'll be posting pictures. I love the whole Stitch n Bitch series. What fun stuff for all types of needlers.
I have had a great response to the sale of my longcoat pattern. Thanks so much to all of you. I am working on writing several more free patterns for hand and machine knit. Thanks for all the comments I've been recieving about my work.
Got any ideas for patterns?? Let me know what you're looking for or need, who knows what we can come up with!
So much to do, so little time.
Happy knitting
