Venetian Harlequin
Length | slight over 61?
Width | 11?
Fringe | 13? double knotted

It took a while for me to finish this piece because of distractions (family matters, other hobbies, etc) and brainstorming for the shop. Instead of the three days, I took over two weeks (me thinks)! I really ought to find a way to concentrate on my pieces instead of losing focus and switching to something else like dyeing.

Oh! I’ll say it now – I simple love how the colours flow over! Nil thinks that it’s very Scottish kilt-like even though Scot kilts are more reds and greens than purple, red and yellow. Do you see now why Lapis Lazuli is following a similar weave pattern?

Anyway, this will be up in the shop come September when I have more weaved up for sale then. I’m hoping to come up with at least three more colours for this series, so wish me lots of luck!!!!

…On a completely different note, ever since I got pregnant, these nasty pimples have never failed to show up. I do get an occasional one or two popping up when my period comes a-calling (ah, the perks of PMS) but this is getting crazy!

What’s worse is that they aren’t small but those huge under the crater type which are painful more than anything else. I don’t know if it’s because of my cream, the weather or just the fact that I’ve changed my facial routine a few times over the past few months.

So really, what’s the best acne treatment around? I’m desperate and well, while it isn’t really much of an issue, I still don’t like seeing them pop up, especially around the forehead and sides (where my hair covers and my specs sit – great!).

ARGH! This is so not nice.

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 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!

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
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.

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!!!!!!

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?