Vert est jeune

Vert est jeune

Vert est jeune
Length | slight over 66?
Width | 11.5?
Fringe | 9? double knotted

This was another quick weave despite me putting down the loom for nearly 10 days due to the holidays. It was a first, experimenting with the thin creamy stripes and I’m glad it turned out quite well really.

Anyway, I opted again for the double knotted fringe – yes, I love double knots (but maybe it’s also because this is one of the few “pretty” ways of ending a scarf that I know of). I ought to look around for more ideas for finishing though.

The double knotted fringe again!

The soft variegated colours of the cotton yarn gives this a very spring, lime, fresh feel and I enjoy the feel of the difference in the texture of both the cotton and acrylic-based yarn. Despite my initial thoughts about it, I was surprised by the overall weight – this proves to be heavier than the first scarf I weaved. Perhaps it’s the thickness and make of the yarn that changed everything.

While I was in France, I had the chance to browse through Grandmaman‘s old tissage books. Published in the late 50s, it’s meant more for table looms but I loved looking at the patterns and came away, utterly mad over stripes, chevrons, diamonds and checkered patterns.

I have something in mind for the next few projects, which requires a little digging around the stash – yes, I’ll be putting those leftovers to good use! Yes, there just might be more to come!

Creamy stripes against variegated cotton

The second weave

Vert est jeune in the making! The shine on the loom

Vert est jeune
Warp yarn | Schachenmayr nomotta Bravo Baby in 120 (Baby Vanille) & Maxima in 1614 (Light Cream)
Weft yarn | Schachenmayr nomotta Catania Color in 76 (Plantage) & Bravo Baby in 120 (Baby Vanille)
Reed | 7.5 dpi
Ends | 96 ends

Fresh on the loom now is Vert est jeune (Green is young) – a play of some sorts on the words “est” and “jeune”; mispronounce both and you get “et” (and) and “jaune” (yellow)… Okay, so it’s a pretty lame attempt at being funny/smart. Never mind that.

This time, I’m working with a slight striping pattern for the warp and will be planning on incorporating it into the weft as well. The fibres in use are not wool but acrylic and cotton, which gives the scarf a softer feel and slight sheen to its surface.

I’m hoping it’ll turn out just the way I imagine it to be. :)

In the mean time, it’s back to more weaving and figuring out some mortgage quotes online (it’s an assignment).

Crème aux fraises

Crème aux fraises off the loom!

Crème aux fraises
Length | slight over 67″
Width | 12″
Fringe | 9″ double knotted

Honestly, I hadn’t anticipated that weaving was a fast thing. Now I see why heaps of weavers out there, even those with table looms and such, love this craft! Weaving this up was fun – the colours change subtly with every line and overtime, I became just fascinated with how the weave pattern flowed on.

The double knotted fringe

Finishing this was a slightly different thing. I started this project with the most basic of instructions – the Ashford colourful booklet, which is fine for warping and all – but it doesn’t give me much idea as to how to finish a scarf apart from tying in knots. The Internet didn’t give me much either so I had to rely on whatever sewing skills I had when it came to hemming. I don’t know what the stitch was called but basically I “twisted” the yarn in with a darning yarn (which is actually the leftover weft yarn) and ended it with a double knot fringe, which I simple adore!!!!!!

The weave texture

Texture-wise, because this is pure wool (both weft and warp yarns are wool-based), it can feel a little coarse but that’s also because I have yet to wash and soften it. I reckon that after a washing & softening treatment, it’ll be soft, airy and light. Actually, right now it’s like that…just a little coarse, that’s all.

Now, don’t you just wish you had one? :wink:

Hm…just to side track a little, I wonder if there was a way to do closed captioning for this on TVs back at home?

A little weaving adventure…

The start of a weaving adventure!

The loom has been assembled, the warp all set and I have started to weave! HURRAH!

My only complaint is that I have a slightly too large reed for the yarns that I’m using (7.5 dpi or 30/10) resulting is a rather airy and light fabric. It’s still alright for now but I think I’ll have to get hold of a 10 dpi reed soon if I’m going to weave on primarily fingering-weight yarns. It isn’t all that easy though – after spending last night and a good part of this morning going through websites, catalogues (yes, even a furniture catalog or two), I was only down to three sellers, excluding the supplier we got the loom from here in Switzerland.

Anyway, project details are as follows…

The warps & wefts

Crème aux fraises
Warp yarn | TheSingingYarn sock yarn in Cherry Wood
Weft yarn | Handpaintedyarn.com wool lace in Freesia
Reed | 7.5 dpi
Ends | 102 ends

Right now, I only hope that I won’t take forever to finish this. Lets just say that I’ve got plans for this project…good plans. Oh, in case you’re wondering, that shawl is done but I’ve yet to block it. Am awaiting the arrival of some blocking mats…

:wink:

The Gift!

My Rigid Heddle Loom... Finishing the loom

For my anniversary gift, Nil went online and bought me this lovely LOVELY 40 cm Rigid Heddle Loom. When I first mentioned that I wanted to pick up weaving because it looked interesting and I could do something with it, he quietly said that he wouldn’t mind getting a loom for me. So when he asked me to place the order for him (because he’s a blur sotong when it comes to knitting/spinning/weaving) on Monday, I didn’t believe it.

Today, while waiting for the coffee mix to cool, I went to get the mail and there was the postman standing in front of the boxes looking for my name. When he saw me opening the box, he went “AHHHHH, c’est pour vous!” and there and then, he gave me the parcel. I left it unopened while I worked on the tiramisu but after that I couldn’t resist.

It felt like Christmas all over again! The loom comes unassembled and with a 7.5 dpi reed, two shuttles, threading hooks, a warping peg and warping instructions…but I totally did not expect the magazines from Ashford. Yes, they sent a copy of The Wheel but they aren’t new issues – 2004 and 2005 but really who cares? There was even a note in the packaging letting me know who put together package! Excellent stuff really…

I was still finding it hard to believe – I have a loom! – while I was busy varnishing the wooden bits. The finishing process reminded me a little about school but back then, I never appreciated how finished and unfinished wood looked. I’ll have to wait at least a week before I can put this together (because of the varnish) but it won’t stop me from gushing non-stop over it!

Eeek! I HAVE A LOOM!

On the side, can they stop giving me diet pills like Leptovox to write about???