Seabreeze Spinners

Instead of samples, we wove mug rugs. What a great gift or sales item. (The 8/2 cotton “rugs” are machine wash and dryable.) I was delighted with the outcome of my learning to thread the heddles from a pattern (rosepath) and to learn treadling patterns. You may notice that there is a zig zag in the pattern. When I “oopsed” by accidently repeating a treadling out of order, I just repeated the “oops” and made it part of my pattern. I have a lot of experience re-cooping “oopses”. (LOL) While we got to take ours home, the Steacoah Weavers make and then sell their “mug rugs” in the fall at the heritage festival.

I’ve been so busy upon my return from the mountains … piles of laundry (ugh!), catching up at work … but I’m back. I’ve added to the “Llama Shawl Finish (pattern)”; that post is completed. I’ll be blogging again … lots to share.

Stecoah Valley Weavers of Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center, North Carolina (Students with our projects and our teachers to the right. THANK YOU Joyce and Brenda!) (click on photo for better look at Stecoah Valley Weavers’ loom room … spinners, checkout the “great wheel” … it’s a fully functional wheel.)

Oh, and that MasterWeaver III, we got it home (and we even had room for Lacy in the back).

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Tropical Twister

Been so busy…haven’t blogged. More next week after I’ve returned home. Such fun!!
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Good Morning from the Smoky Mountains!

The llama shawl finish:

(click on photos for larger photo)

9/16/8 First, complete last shawl knit row. Then, cast on six stitches of border yarn on the circular needle next to live shawl stitches. With a straight needle the same size as the circular needle (my circular needle was an 11 and the only straight needle I had on hand was a 10 1/2 … it worked), slip the first border stich (one you just cast on) onto the straight needle. Then, knit four stitches. You now have one border stitch remaining on the circular needle. Slip that last border stitch onto the straight needle. Now, slip the next stitch on the circular needle (a live shawl stitch) onto the straight needle. Rearange the needles so that you can knit two together (the two stitches you just slipped onto the straight needle). Now, turn your work. Slip the first stitch onto the circular needle (that’s the K2 you just completed), knit the rest of the stitches onto the circular needle. You now have 6 border stitches on the circular needle. Turn again. Slip the first border stitch onto the straight needle. Knit to one from the end. Slip the last border stitch and then slip the first live shawl stitch onto the straight needle. Continue in this same pattern until the next stitch is the middle stitch of the shawl (remember, that’s the one you marked with the openable marker).

Next, directions to miter the point. (to be continued…)

9/26/8 Miter Point:

‘Til you get past the point, you’ll only be working mostly with the border stitches.
Row 1 slip the first stitch, knit 4 and turn.
Row 2 slip the first stitch, knit to end (this and all even rows)
Row 3 slip the first stitch, knit 3 and turn.
Row 4 repeat row 2
Row 5 slip the first stitch, knit 2 and turn. (see the pattern?)
Row 6 repeat row 2
Row 7 slip the first stitch, knit 1 and turn.
Row 8 repeat row 2
Row 9 slip the first stitch, kinit 4, slip the last border stitch then slip the slip the shawl stitch (that middle stitch), then reposition your needle so that you can knit the two stitches you just slipped over together and turn
Row 10 repeat row 2
Row 11 slip the first stitch, knit 1 and turn
Row 12 repeat row 2
Row 13 slip the first stitch, knit 2 and turn (again, see a pattern developing?)
Row 14 repeat row 2
Row 15 slip the first stitch, knit 3 and turn
Row 16 repeat row 2
Row 17 slip the first stitch, knit 4 and turn
Row 18 repeat row 2
Row 19 slip the first stitch, knit 4 and then slip the last border stitch and then the next shawl stitch and then reposition the needles so you can knit the two stitches you sliped together.

Continue on the pattern above along the live edge of the shawl picking up a “live” shawl stitch every two rows, as you had been before you got to the point.

I’ve tried to make the directions clear. It’s always easier in my head than when I try to write it out. Questions? Just ask.

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Hummingbird viewed from the deck. Tropical Twister is enjoying the mountains!
Found an amazing resource. Janet Meany is the contact for The Weavers Friend. http://weaversfriend.com/ She keeps a liabrary of manuals and such for every imagineable loom … even the orphans like the MasterWeaver which are no longer in production. Also check out The Spinning Wheel Sleuth http://www.spwhsl.com/ for articles on wheels and looms. They specialize in helping you identify and get information on spinning wheels. Great resources, both.

Tropical Twister in the Mountains

We made it safely.  Today was a perfect day.  We stopped in Waynesville for freshly baked apple turnovers pies.
 

 

 

 

We visited Haywood Community College where we discovered a grist mill. At the college, I picked up a MasterWeaver III loom (circa 1982) which I had won on ebay.  I had hoped to bring it back to Florida but unless one of us is strapped to the roof, I’m not sure that’s going to happen.  Continuing on our ramble, we stopped at the Mast General Store where I snagged a pair of shoes 50% off and a huge bag of olde timey candy.  A perfect day ending in a feast of fried chicken and fried green tomatoes.

Oh, and that llama shawl.  I fulled the finished shawl and blocked in on the porch where it dryed flat.  The finished shawl…

Next week, a week of weaving at Stecoach.  More next week on that.

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Simple Garter Stitch Top Down Shawl

Select circular needle to compliment the yarn size.  I used size 11.  Cast on three stitches.

Row 1 Knit 3 (3 stitches) (notice this and all odd numbered row “knit”)

Row 2 K1, yo, K1, yo, K1 (5 stitches)

I use an openable marker to mark the center K1 stitch.  Don’t encircle the entire stitch or you won’t be able to tell front from back.  Put it through the face of the center K1 and you’ll always know the front.  Since you always knit uneven rows and yarn over only on the front the marker makes it a lot easier to remember what you are doing.  I move the marker up every ten rows or so, so that I can easily tell front from back as I knit.  After you work the pattern for awhile, you’ll see that you “K1, yo”, then knit to the middle back.  You “yo” just before and after the center stitch.  Then knit to within one stitch of the end of the row, finishing with a “yo, K1″.  

Row 3 Knit 5 (5 stiches)

Row 4 K1, yo, K1, yo, K1, yo, K1, yo, K1 (9 stitches)

Row 5 Knit 9 (9 stitches)

Row 6 K1, yo, K3, yo, K1, yo, K3, yo, K1 (13 stitches)

Row 7 Knit 13 (13 stitches)

Row 8  K1, yo, K5, yo, K1, yo, K5, yo, K1 (17 stitches)

Row 9 Knit 17 (17 stitches)

Continue established pattern.  Each even row the K# will increase 2 with every row.  Just knit between yo’s and you won’t need to count.  Remember to knit uneven rows (back). 

FINISH (#1)  Chiengora

The hypotenuse (the long side of the triangle) falls across the shoulders.  The two (2) short sides are the “live” stitches.  The sum of the two short sides, the live stitches you have loaded on the needles, is longer than the hypotenuse.  When center line down the back is long enough bind off.  Bind off by starting on an even (front) row.  At the beginning of the row just K1 then K1 again.  (No “yo’s”, yarn overs.)  Take the first stitch back over the second stitch and drop it off.  Continue across the live stitches.  You’ve finished the shawl!

FINISH #2 Llama Shawl

While I wanted the shawl simple and rustic, I  found the shawl very plain.  I decided to add a contrasting border to lift the finished look.  The Silk Sliver with Rambouille yarn  http://seabreezespinners.com/category/articles/hand-spun-yarn/ I just finished was too white.  I had some previously spun wool which was naturally yellowish white which blended better with the tone of the llama. 

Will post FINISH #2 next post.

I’m headed to the mountains (photo on front seat of 4-Runner).  Here is the project I’m working on, a llama shawl (left over yarn from scarf project).  Same pattern as the “Lacy” Shawl with a different finish.  Will post pattern and more photos soon.

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I purchased this scrumptious roving from Crystal Creek Fibers. It is a Silk Sliver and Rambouillet Wool Roving 50/50 silk/wool. It is absolutely lushish. Margaret Hazard can be reached at http://crystalcreekfibers.com/ They’re in Oregon. The rooving was light and airy and spun up like a dream. I plyed the singles from this rooving with a commercial lace weight wool for a slubby, shiny white yarn. Perhaps a shawl…

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Still growing …

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