My First Woven Hat

One of my favorite pasttimes is to check out craft books from the library. I found one called Weaving Without a Loom and I'm making a tam/beret type hat that I found in the book. The hardest part was finding a copy center that could enlarge the pattern 190% for me. Then I glued it to a .50 piece of posterboard, and poked holes in all the 'o's and 'x's' with an awl. The cardboard is ripped away after the hat is complete.

The women at the knitting meeting were boggled trying to figure out what the heck I was making with a piece of cardboard.

So far it is red and gray stripes. But I've barely just begun with it.

Tadpole Knitting Loom & Card Weaving

I got a new knitting loom called the Tadpole. It's made of wood with metal pegs. I like the look and feel of it and it's portable. I took it with me on a roadtrip and started a new lilac scarf. The directions say to use a crochet hook to bind off but the kit doesn't come with one. It does come with a bamboo tool with a slightly bent metal tip for lifting the loops over the peg. Before you start I recommend getting a hook around size B. While you are at it put a yarn needle and some small scissors in the kit as well. I've made baby booties with it. I had hoped to make socks, but it seems the company sells other more expensive looms for that.  I bet I can invent some though.

On another note, some of my friends have been doing card weaving. I'm tempted to get a better set of cards than the ones I made a few years ago out of needlepoint canvas. There are some nice ones on Etsy. Not that I need another labor intensive, low paying activity. I'm just a sucker for things like that though.

Fiber Play Days

Since I've joined the Barony of Angels, I've been exposed to a lot more practitioners of fiber arts. They have these great 'fiber play days' at events where we can sit down and look at inkle weaving projects or talk about nature fiber dyeing and spinning, or learn Viking whip cord braiding.  The only downside is I'm usually so busy doing archery or face painting or juggling or entering the raffle that I barely have time to go to the fiber tables. I need to clone myself, that's all there is too it. Last time I went I learned how to make a stuffed fabric button. I sewed my new button onto a doll.

This is before I sewed his mouth on.

Stick Weaving an Art Doll

I finally learned how to use stick weaving to make a doll. This has so many possibilities. I'm very excited.

Three Color Striped Sash

Today I finished the sash (belt) that I started at the Santiago archery range. I noticed that the beginning half is wider than the ending half. Maybe it's not a good idea to change locations in mid-project.  I'll have to keep an eye on that in the future.

This was my first attempt at stripes and I used 3 colors of yarn.

Weaving With My Portable Loom

On a whim I cruised through the children's section of the library and picked up a craft book.  (See photo). In the book I found directions for making a super easy loom.  I've been weaving almost daily ever since. I'm having so much fun. And I love that it's portable so I can take it to the park or an archery gathering or to the beach and weave.

My friend Barbara took this photo of me weaving.

New Old Guild

Sean Michael Thomas demonstrating a drop spindle.

Years ago I almost joined a spinning guild, but then we moved and they moved and life went on. I recently ran into the man who runs it again, and this time I think it may be doable. They only meet once a month, which is better for me, and they meet at homes, so people can bring their spinning wheels. The other knitting group I've been going to meets weekly but it's at a Starbucks so we don't bring much with us so we won't take over the whole place. Sean's wife Lynn is going to teach me how to spin so I'm very excited. I've also been invited to do a demo at the Irish fair in June. I hope I can talk my boyfriend into it, but so far he doesn't seem that interested.