Kismet

While browsing the Fiber Friday thread from last week on Craftster I got the urge to jump on Craigslist to look at wheels and bobbins. Obviously I'm not in the market to buy anything, being quite content with my Ashford Traveller, but I couldn't help checking out the local scene. On a whim I decided to check out looms as well, just to see what people were looking to get rid of since I'm pretty keen on learning the age old art of weaving. Much to my surprise I saw a headline listing a vintage "Weaver's Friend" loom. I checked out the listing, saw the photos, and my jaw dropped to the floor. I swear it had to be a misprint. There was no was way on earth that the price could be correct for that size loom! It gave a number to call for more information, so call I did! I got a call back shortly after and spoke with a lovely woman who explained that the loom was purchased in an estate sale and was going to be used for a small side business that she and her mother wanted to start. In an unfortunate turn of events her mother was recently diagnosed with cancer and has since become wheelchair bound. The dreams of their business together were dashed and it has since become an item of regret, taking up a good portion of the living room. Really she just wanted it gone, but to a good home. Having an evening off of work I set off to take a look. You know that old "love at first sight" story? Yeah. It can happen. I stayed and chatted for a bit then had to make my way home, but not before paying the mere $150 asking price and setting up a time on Sunday to go pick up my new toy!
I was so excited that I couldn't even think of anyone to call who would understand how COOL this is. Then I decided one of the best people to tell first was my dad. He was really excited for me, our family being really interested in history and keeping the trades of the past alive. The loom was made by the Reed Loom Company in Springfield, Ohio which stared back in the late 1800s. Shortly after Mr. Reed's death it was taken over by Paul Linker who kept the company open until the mid 70's when he passed and they stopped manufacturing them. Basically, at the youngest possible age my "new" loom is at least 30 years old!

I think I may go back to French Creek Fiber Arts to learn some loom basics since that's where I took my spinning classes. Peggy was a great teacher and her shop is fantastic. It's kind of a long haul from here, but I think it'll be worth it since I'm already familiar with her and she has really reasonable class prices. Although I did find the Western Reserve Spinners and Weaver's Guild. They meet at the Farmpark (about 20 minutes from my house) once a month. As is turns out, their next meeting is a week from today so I may just check them out first and go from there.


Another issue to work out is where the heck am I going to put a 52 x 52 in. loom?!? lol I'm really too impulsive sometimes. :) It should fit in the back room of my house, but just to get it inside I think the front door may have to come off! Luckily there's enough room to do some rearranging of the furniture.We're just going to have to wait and see how it goes on Sunday. Improvise will be the name of the game I think. Thank goodness that's one of my talents!

Spin Spin Sugar

Current spinning project: 8 ounces of hand dyed Blue Faced Leicester top, in Redwood Forest that I picked up from Frabjous Fibers. Soooo lovely to spin. It's making quite a fine laceweight- my first.


I really have no idea what to make with it so I may put it up for sale. I'm working on a solid dark teal Corridale top as well and can't decide if I want to ply it with the Redwood Forest. Do I want to go for two gorgeous singles with lots of yardage in each or a ply the two complementing yarns and end up with less yardage but a really striking colorway?


Decisions...decisions....

Heroes

They come in many forms. Even crazy Finns. Meet mine: Riku Rantala and Tunna Milonoff
These guys take in the world the way that I could only dare to dream. Hopping from country to country, to me they are living the ultimate high life.

Perhaps one day I will be fortunate enough to even get a taste of life on the road as they have been doing it for years.

Persuasion Multnomah

I'm in a KAL for Jane Austen's Persuasion. The theme being water, waves, blue, oceans, etc... I found my inspiration close to home. Living about a 10 minute walk from the shores of Lake Erie, I took a stroll and ended up having a lovely evening reading, with this as my view:
Realizing that my Opal yarn would be perfect for this project my plans of making a pair of lacy cream colored fingerless gloves were swapped for a lovely, small shawl which can easily double as a fantastic neckerchief. With winter coming up I find this to be a most perfect accessory.


I've chosen the Multnomah, a beautiful little shawl with the feather and fan border representing the waves along a shoreline. The yarn I’m using for this is inspired by the shimmer on the Lake. It’s a thick and thin 2-ply. The thin, shiny yarn is the shimmer and the slightly puffier cream yarn reminds me of the little cloud fluffs. The light color also seems to fit the feel of Persuasion for me as well -the simple softness and beauty of Anne.

Foray into the North and South

My first attempt into the wide, wide world of double pointed needles went swimmingly! I was always so wary of trying, thinking it would be fussy and annoying to work with so many needles at once, but oh how wrong I was!

I am absolutely in love this new world that I've discovered. There are so many more things that I can knit now! Gloves... socks... hats... legwarmers.... oh la la!

Christmas...

It's coming along and this year I'm hoping to get ahead of the game. Normally I don't start projects and prezzies until it's almost too late. This year I'm taking the initiative and starting on things NOW. I'm done with my list for friends, now comes the tough part of family members. Luckily since everyone in my family is pretty artsy/craftsy they'll appreciate the time and effort of handmade gifts. With my work schedule I should have enough time during the morning and early afternoon to craft and maybe for once get my gifts done before Christmas Eve!

Jacquie Blue

I wanted to make something for one of my little sisters and since fall is at our doorstep a scarf was a logical choice. The Medallion Motif scarf is really fast and fun, and quite pretty. I call this one Jacquie Blue. :) Hopefully I can update this later with a pic of her wearing it.

Dusty Cables

So I finished my dusty cables scarf last night just as the credits were rolling on Little Women. I tend to watch it a lot when I'm sewing or working on a yarn project. I've seen it so many times that I can concentrate on my work and still know what's going on onscreen. Beth getting sick and dying gets me every time! Anyway, enough of me being a sap, back to my scarf. :)


I like the cable pattern but I'm not too thrilled with how the edges curl inward. It's not bad and doesn't take away from the scarf, it's just a personal annoyance I guess. I might end up giving this one away. We'll see though. I do have 17 other scarves. :)

Last night I worked on the Wham Bam Thank You Lamb! cowl. Love the pattern, love the yarn and I finished in one sitting! The color will go really well with my winter coat too.


As a bonus, the pretty "brooch" is actually an old clip on earring that belonged to my grandma waaaaaaay back in the day. :) Can't go wrong with true vintage!!!

Back in the swing of things...

I've been in a pretty big slump lately with all the things going on at home here. It's rough, I'm not gonna lie. But I'm not going to sit here and whine about it either. Instead I'm going to post some of the things I've been working on to keep myself occupied while being out of work the past month. I start this weekend again so I'm trying to crank out as many finished items as possible. :)


This scarf was made about a month ago while my grandma was in the hospital. I'd spun up this yarn last November and was waiting for the right project. Well since I needed something to work on while spending a long day in the ER I figured I'd just bring up my skein and whip something up. It's a simple ribbed stitch edging with alternating blocks of knit and purl stitches. I can't wait until it's cold enough out to wear wool!


This is a pattern I found on the Lion Brand website. Loved it when I made it for my friend Stefani and always wanted one of my own. I had a skein of this lovely green Vanna's Choice and made it in a couple afternoons.

I actually made this scarf sometime last winter but didn't like the flower pattern. I tossed it aside and found it again about a week ago. I figured since Autumn starts in a few days I might as well just finish it. I could have put a button or other flower on it but the one in the pattern was so unique that I really wanted to try working it out. I'll probably make another few of these as gifts since they're great stash busters but that damn flower is gonna go.



This scarf is called the Brulee Scarf. Super cute and super easy, but garter stitch is SUCH a bore that I put it aside and will finish it later.


I'm almost done with this beauty. I found the book One Ball Knits at the library the other day and it had some really cute patterns in it. I have a TON of this lovely purple yarn and wanted to make something with cables . Tomorrow it'll be done and I can block it. I can't wait to see how pretty it is when it's all ready to wear! I also plan on making some purple cabled armwarmers to match.

While that's blocking I'm going to make a cowl out of this fantastic chunky yarn I have. I should be able to work it up in the course of an evening since it's such a simple pattern and the yarn is so nice and chunky. Then all I've got to do is find a fabulous button for it!