No spots

Armed with the advice of clever friends (thank you Marianne and  Helen, who has altogether far more important things to worry about right now....) I repaired the broken warp thread.  Actually, I took the weaving right out, went right back to the start and tied in a new thread, because I hadn't got very far.  I started again, more loosely this time, and established more of a rhythm though I really need to sort out my posture before my back breaks!

Clearly things are meant to be looser.  I've relaxed and allowed it to take its own shape, which sadly means there are no longer spots forming in the pattern.  But the resultant weave is more regular (except for the odd blip like in the photo) and in working like this, I now realise how far I was forcing this when I began.

I also notice that the edges are straighter than they were - and remembered Miss Lin's stern face because I had a tendency to pull it too tight when I was there, too.

Yet another lesson learned - my goodness, this will look good on the CPD* record?!

* Continuing Professional Development, of which I am obliged to do ten hours per year.  Half of it must be professional training and the other half can be subject-specific, like this.  I've counted three hours of crochet classes so far and will count two hours of learning to weave.  Add that to the fifteen hours of professional training done so far this academic year and I think I'm out of the woods, don't you?

hanging around

With temperatures below freezing still, there are small clumps of snow hanging in the trees.  Waiting for more, my Mum would have said.

 

Still, there are comfortable (if cold) cushions on the garden furniture if you fancy waiting till tomorrow, when another fall of snow is forecast.

We've just had lunch and commented on the positives of being at home for a prolonged time. Space is appearing in the freezer (which was full to bursting), we have emptied the fridge of all kinds of small bits leftover from Christmas (but still have enough cheese to keep us going for some time yet) and the odd bit of housework from time to time keeps us warm.  Janice, of Project Forty has put this so much better, however.

Bored yet?  Not likely.  More weaving later!

small disaster, no-one hurt

Can anyone advise how to repair a broken warp, especially one which has broken right down there, just half an inch away from the weaving?

You recall how I was keeping everything "nice and tight"?  Another lesson learned.

walk? run?

Of course, having spent a day learning to weave in Laos, I am something of an expert already - not!  But it was enough to whet my appetite and on my birthday last October I was very lucky to receive an Ashford Knitters Loom.  A little different from the one in Luang Prabang but nevertheless, the principles are the same.

First task was to get it warped, which I knew from speaking to weavers, is a time consuming and potentially challenging process.  Armed with the instruction manual, I set 32 warp threads in navy blue linen I'd bought in Sweden. I'd faced the usual dilemma: As a beginner, should I use waste yarn from my stash which would be no loss if it ended up a mess, or good, purpose-selected yarn which I'd be thrilled to see made up?  Of course I went for the latter, following my own recommendations which I offer to beginners - use the best you have.

The instructions were clear and easy to follow but without the benefit of experience, I was unsure how crucial it was to keep everything tight and neat.  I kept it tight and neat just in case, therefore.

A couple of hours later, I began to weave.  I used the yarn bought in Tokyo - a silk linen mix with a lovely grey-blue-black random pattern on a cream base.  I immediately realised my first mistake: the reed is rather too coarse for the weight of yarn I'm using - never mind.  Let's call it a "design choice".  I tried really hard to keep up some kind of rhythm, trying to remember the economical movements taught to me by Miss Lin.  There, when I threw the shuttle through back to front, I  had a tap on the wrist and a stern face to remind me for next time.  Sitting here at home, I found it hard to work at any pace at all but stumbled through the first few rows one at a time.  Clearly, some practice is needed.

But, you know, I'm quite pleased with my first efforts and l-o-v-e the "pattern" which is appearing there in the weave.  At the moment, I'm undecided how tightly to beat the threads down; how open to leave the resultant fabric, but so early in the process it can easily be adjusted.

I suppose that, whatever I choose to do, it will be fine as long as it's consistent - which this clearly is not.  Yet.

I'll have that sorted tomorrow!

Twinkle

It's a beautiful morning here.  The sun is shining and the sky bright blue.  The snow on the walls looks a bit like someone left the bubble bath running!

 

Still peaceful.  Though we just got our daily paper delivered, there really are very few people around and word has it that the local shop is bereft of supplies beyond the odd bar of chocolate.

Continuing low temperatures mean that the snow has stayed white and lovely, even where cars have passed through.

But enough of snow for now....I've got plans to play with my birthday present (last October) today.  Watch this space...

Oh, and spare a thought for a friend who has quite a lot of clearing up to do today, please.  One of those times when practical help would be far more use than the virtual kind, if only it were possible.