Knitting@roosterhillfarm.com

Last time, I posted about my second weaving project. I may have hinted I had issues. Here is what I learned and still need to learn:

1. This was the longest warp I had ever done (105″). By the last placemat, the warp threads were loose in places. I need to perfect warping or at least understand my options when I encounter loose threads. Re-tightening at that point in the project is not the answer!

2. Hemstitch as you go. Doing it off-loom is not fun.

3. Take shrinkage into consideration. I never imagined things would shrink as much, not only once they were off the loom but more after being wet finished.

4. A tile floor makes a great grid for cutting straight lines. So do very sharp scissors.

5. Since I have no stand, I typically sit on the floor and weave from there. The loom is easily portable to the deck and works great propped against a table.

6. Practice makes you better.

Last month I decided on my second weaving project: a set of placemats to give my mother-in-law for Mother’s Day. I worked out my yarn requirements and the pattern I would use. I decided on Cascade Ultra Pima for the yarn.

On a nice day in late April, I decided the deck made the best warping board and proceeded to measure out the yarn.

This was the first time I had ever warped the loom by myself. Mistakes were made. Tangles ensued. It somehow worked out.

I was soon on my way.

It didn’t take long and I was done. Four placemats, good to go. I just had to weave in all the ends. It turned out that one skein of the Ultra Pima worked well as the weft with some leftover, but if I kept it to one skein per placemat I had no other ends to weave in but the beginning and the end.

I hemstitched each end with some rayon thread. Those ends had to be woven in too! And the fringe! Trimming fringe is hard!

I soaked them in hot water and threw then in the dryer for about 30 minutes. I checked them about every 10 minutes to make sure they somehow hadn’t unraveled. The yarn bloomed as I hoped it would and nothing let loose.

I really like how they turned out.

I am almost ready for my next project. I am thinking rug.

Set of 4 placemats
Yarn: 8 Skeins Cascade Ultra Pima Fine: 6 Sage, 1 Peach, 1 Natural
I used a 10″ reed.
Woven size: 17.25″x14″
Finished size: 16″ x 13″
Project Page

It’s been a couple years since I last participated in a swap but for some reason last month I decided to take the plunge and join a new one. Its theme was “all about wishing upon a star and making dreams come true. In this swap, you’ll wish for the things that you most want by writing a wish list and wishing upon a star. You’ll make dreams come true by learning what would make your partner happy and granting at least one of their wishes.”
I have learned that swap packages arrive on the worst of days. Things can go wrong all day and with one look in the mailbox, all those troubles disappear once that large box is spotted.

Opening this box was like Christmas. No, it was better than Christmas.
 
 

The card was a wonderful rooster.
 
 

Look at that wonderful pair of earrings!
 
 

Lots of green buttons….
 
 

and a green pen ….
 
 

Lavender soap from Sonoma…
 
 

Stitch markers ….
 
 

My partner is from California so here are some dried apricots from her neck of the woods…
 
 

And look at that project bag! She says she never made one before, I am not sure I believe her
 
 

A nice rooster mug to add to my collection. I love how bright and cheery this is!
 
 

And finally some yarn! Two skeins of MadTosh – Tosh Sock in Cousteau and Tosh Light in Kelp. They are both so beautiful – I am not sure how these colors escaped me for so long!
 
 
So thank you, Leslie in California, for a wonderful swap box! It really made a bad day retreat in the shadows and I love everything you sent to me!
 
 

Here is my box on its way to the other side of the world!