Tour de Fleece 2020 Day 1 & 2

I was thrilled to see that the Tour de Fleece is going to run on the normal schedule. The Tour de France has been moved to late August to mid Sept.  But thankfully, the TdF is sticking with the summer schedule.  Happy as that means I can spin more since I am not currently commuting.

My company announce over a month ago that the NYC office are close until Labor Day.  And they will assess the situation at that time.  So not having a 2+ hour commute Tuesday-Thursday means more time at home & possibly even spinning during lunch!  Woohoo!

I joined most of the same teams as the previous years.  Spinning Into the Whirled fibers.  So back on their team.  Also Akerworks, Schacht & Warped Weavers. 

I am on Team Tardis this year.  Haven't been in eons!  One of the ItW colorways is The Empty Child.  Love it!  And it inspired me to watch some Doctor Who for this round.  I like having some viewing material.  And been a long while since I watched the older episodes of Doctor Who.  So figure it would be good to go back to it.

Didn't realize it had moved to HBOMax.  But we still have HBO.  So it comes with our subscription.  I was just talking about letting it go...but guess we will keep it a while longer.  *laugh*

I am starting the TdF with a lovely colorway that kinda screamed Pride to me!  Though of course as I am spinning it, I realize it is missing the blues & reds of the Pride flag.  But I still think it works. *laugh*  The fiber is really bright and happy! 

**Day 1 - Season 1 of the New Doctors Episode 1 Rose & 2 The End of the World -**

**Day 2 - Season 1 of the New Doctors Episode 3 The Unquiet Dead **

Better post this or who knows when I will!  Hoping to get to posting regular for the TdF.

2020 Goals

I know, been a while!

Better late than never with the goals, right...?  *laugh*

Listen to the Fuck This Knit podcast & they were discussing goals.  I decided to give some a try this year. Trying not to go crazy but also would like to do some things!

I am listing my fiber related ones first since this is my fiber blog.  But also listing the non-fiber ones too.

Fiber Related - 

Finish DH Sweater
Just needs a button band!  Right.  And pockets.  But he is telling to skip the pockets as he just wants it DONE!  Poor guy has been super patient.  Started in Oct. 2012 & nearly done since 2014!  *Sigh*

Knit Myself a Sweater
Bought myself a few sweater qtys of yarn!  So have the yarn.  Just need to get moving!  Though see above!  Should come first...in theory... *laugh*

SOCKS!
Nearly all my socks blew out at once in our old apartment.  Swear the floors liked to eat them!  DH and I could really use some new socks.  I really want to finish the long languishing socks that I need to add a true afterthought heel to them.  Which is why they have been zzzzing since SSK in 2016!  I watched a great video tutorial by Amy Florence of Stranded Dyeworks podcast. (Wish this was on my podcast feeds but seems to be YouTube only.)  Seems somewhat appropriate as I met her at SSK & may have even knit those socks while chatting with her in a large group before I even knew who she was!  *laugh*

Also, DH definitely could use some warm socks!

Weave At Least Two Projects
Really want to finish the napkins on the loom. https://ravel.me/akasha/crn The warp is on the loom. But stalled as the pattern doesn't have picks per inch.  And I have yet to figure out the measuring paper so they match.  Since it is a kit, it needs to be good about not going over the amount.  And it's a rigid heddle kit.  So the loom waste can't be too much. 

Working Down the Stash
Have a whole lot of stash!  Really need to work on knitting from the stash.  Have loads of goodies...  Though more fiber stash may be okay.  Have a lot less fiber stash...  But I would like the overall amount to go down from 2020 to 2021!

Get to the Work Fiber Group More
Love the group name - Random Crafty Penguins.  And really like the group.  Ever since things started with my former boss in Dec. 2018 though now, work has been crazy.  I think I have gone 2-3 times in all of 2019!!  Think it would really help my sanity to get back to the meetings.

Non-Fiber Goals -

Getting In More Activity
I have let that slide a lot & not doing me any favors.  Not committing to anything specific.  But need to move more.

Find a Therapist
Work has been pretty stressful over the past year or so.  They have improved but still non-stop crazy busy.  I need to talk with someone.  Thinking I should check about call in as that way I can do it at home on days DH is working.  Want to post it here as I am trying to take my own advice.  I believe a person shouldn't be embarrassed about talking to a health care professional about mental health.  Just as important as seeing a general physician!

Get My Mammogram & Gyno Appointment
Finally found a local primary care doc I like.  Even got my my physical! Hooray for that.  Loving Valley Medical.  Good group practice.  It's huge progress! 

But I am overdue for my mammogram & gyno appointments.  Thinking I should change to a local gyno.  I like the OB I see. She is part of the group practice I started with when I became pregnant with my Elder Munchkin.  Loved the doc I started with. But she stopped participating with my insurance.  But I don't love her.  And she always runs late.  So it is generally at least an hour wait which is really irksome.  Tried morning appointments in hopes that it was just that she starts to run late.  But nope.  2-3 hours for a quick checkup where I only spend about 10-15 minutes with the doc! 

Think it may also be good to switch to a gyno only without an OB since I am done with that.  But not sure how many are only gyno these days.  Did get some recommendations from my primary care doc.  So need to check out if they take my insurance and their reviews.

Drink More Water
Know this helps my alertness & overall feeling better. Dehydration is no one's friend!

Read More
I have gotten out of the habit of reading on the bus.  Also haven't been reading before bed.  Really important overall!

Cut Back on Screen Time
This has impacted things a lot.  I tend to be goofing off on my phone way too much.  On the bus & while watching tv or movies.  It has also impacted my crafting & reading time which isn't good either.  I took a look at some apps to help limit my phone time.  Think it could help in the long run.  Could be useful to see how much time I am actually on my phone.  A bit scared frankly!

WOW!

That is a longer list than I intended.  So I am stopping now.  We will see how this goes!  But wanted to put it out there so I can look back on it.  Though my goals in past years have been spotty...  But hey, being human means trying and failing.  But the point is to keep trying!

If anyone actually still reads this (other than DH Helllllloooo! *waving hands*) & know of some good healthy habit apps and/or time limit ones for Android, let me know. 

For phone time, I tried YourHour first and really not my thing.  Seemed to want to track all my usage.   And about how many times I unlock my phone & sets a limit on that.  Didn't cared for it.  I really want to track certain things like games & social media.  I am not concern about my phone or texting time as I do it so little.  *laugh*  Screen Time seems better for what I want.  Hoping it works well.  If not, there are a few dozen other apps to try!

For healthy habits, I am trying HabitBull & Habit Now.  Similar in style honestly.  Though for both, it really seems like I need to come up with each task.  Which I like & dislike.  Though really hoping it isn't one of those free to start & then give us all your money which seems to be common in the comments for Habit apps!  A lot of them give you a few things, but either you can't track them long term without paying for them or they don't store the data.  I will give them a shot.  Or maybe take a look for a new one if they don't pan out!

Hoping that 2020 is a good year for fiber & health!

Tour de Fleece Days 7-16 - Spinning Singles of Into the Whirled Polwarth/Tussah Silk in Captain Tightpants Colorway

Here is the link on Ravelry to the spinning:
https://ravel.me/akasha/ct

Life has been busy.  So I haven't really had a chance to catch up on blogging or even posting to Ravelry about the Tour de Fleece!

Since Into the Whirled was having a team again I wanted to participate.  Love their fibers.  Much to my shock, I am was down to only FOUR of their fibers left! *gasp*.

I almost spun the Rhinebeck colorway. But just couldn't stop myself with Captain Tightpants! Love the colors.  I thought about saving it for a year when I participated in the Firefly TdF group.  But didn't want to wait.

I decided to split it down the middle & spin the singles on two bobbins.  Figure I can see what a two ply looks like as well as Navajo/chain plying.  The colors are so bright that I want to keep them clean & have them pop.  I really want the yardage of the 2-ply.  But may decide that Navajo/chain plying is a better way to go to keep the colors strong & saturated.

Going to see what happens when I ply & decide then.

Kinda funny that I am spinning Polwarth/Silk blends back-to-back.  Love anything & everything with silk.  And the Polwarth in particular spins wonderfully with it. 

Very happy with both the Into the Whirled & The First Draft fibers.  And given their vintage in my stash, it is amazing they spin so beautifully! I think I predrafted The First Draft last year when I started it.  But can't recall.  And with the ItW, didn't predraftt at all.

Day 7 - Started Spinning Singles

Progress pic:

Created via Instagram's photo collage:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzriip2BZtIcI2C3Kbxu9oSgkBb8Hxo_kU-XQQ0/

Loving the colors.  Bright & wonderful.

Viewing for the day:
I had to watch the Shindig episode of Firefly where the reference comes from. Still a fav!

Day 8 - 1st Singles Continue

Progress pic:

Created via Instagram's photo collage:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz9SWgGBIiAGtEYHZvZOwCMrOc9g9DRSo8oC6k0/

Viewing for the day:
Mary Poppins Returns
Hadn't seen it before.  Best part was Sick Van Dyke dancing! Though Colin Firth chewing scenery was fun too.

Day 9 - 1st Singles Continue

Did a fair bit of spinning.

Progress pic:

Created via Instagram's photo collage:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz9Te8Whru2LTKwd_CwawM5rk3bqAgImGtM_bY0/

Viewing for the day:
Got some Scottish ale in the Hopsy Sub. Figured Brigadoon was needed!

Day 10 - Finished 1st Half of Singles

Happy the 1st half is spun! Not too shabby!

Progress pic:

Created via Instagram's photo collage:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz9b5OeBkZM_JPPEI0xuBGTeeFqsMTxa47P2W00/

Viewing for the day:
Watched part of Cry-Baby. Also got a dance number in the most unlikely place...while watching The Umbrella Academy.

Day 11 / Rest Day - Starting 2nd Half of Singles

Technically, it's a rest day for the Tour de Fleece. But did a tiny bit of spinning. Starting what may be the 2nd singles.

Progress pic:

Created via Instagram's photo collage:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0ADYwlBelciGAJp-uaZd7glKrVpBf5isrD4_U0/

Day 12 - Little Bit of 2nd Singles

Not a lot of spinning.  But commuting days I am happy to get to get anything done!

Progress pic:

Created via Instagram's photo collage:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0DrBlWhKa1FKDc0HEUsLg-XgUOSlziLgDajWs0/

Day 13 - A Little More of 2nd Singles

Another commuting day so not a ton of progress but some!

Progress pic:

Created via Instagram's photo collage:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0H-AnhBYLZTvr1rr17x62bd-l4CCIM8Sy3PC40/

Day 14 - More of 2nd Singles

Busy work day but no commute. There was an awesome band at the clubhouse on our lake. Spent the evening there. But still got some spinning done. Hooray!

Progress pic:

Created via Instagram's photo collage:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0H_XRJhmE4fzNBFWHYinW9OYnUzKeRJR5JJLw0/


Day 15 - Yet More of 2nd Singles

Spent a good deal of time spinning.  But also did some other things.  Got a fair bit done.

Progress pic:

Created via Instagram's photo collage:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0KipB4htrTqDSxmElIScVrXk3CRAkB75wm9a80/

Viewing for the day:
Watched Man of la Mancha. Had been a while. Wish I had gotten to the brilliant blue while watching Peter O'Toole... And didn't recall Brian Blessed was in it!

Day 16 - 2nd Singles Done!

Spent a good chunk of the day spinning.  Watched two musicals and got the singles done!  Woohoo!

Progress pic:

Created via Instagram's photo collage:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0NIP_1BZFAiAwa7iTEEemDU_JMu8wmBVMyrBY0/

Viewing for the day:
Xanadu & Hair.  Xanadu is one of those musicals I watch regularly.  Still love it.  Gene Kelly is always awesome.  And I love Olivia Newton-John.  Definitely of its time.  But in a fun, campy way.  Hair is also very much of its time.  But very different in feel.  Didn't actually finish watching it as it is long

Days 2-6 of the Tour de Fleece - Fun with The First Draft Polwarth/Silk

I have been working on The First Draft Polwarth/Silk in the Thomas Waith Is In Love colorway.  I got the first half of the singles spun during last year's TdF!

Day 2 - 2nd Singles Done!

Got to spend a good chunk of the day spinning.  So I completed the singles.  Hooray!

Created via Instragram's photo collage:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzo0TZhB13-obdlt_4i-2eTaXmuE006fZk9VFE0/

On the musicals front, I watched Moulin Rouge first.  Love that movie.

Decided to watch the Heathers musical episode of Riverdale.  It is fun.  And I like the music much to my surprise the first time I watched it.  Love the 80s movie and didn't see the point in the musical version.   But after hearing the music, I think it is fun.

I watched part of Little Shop of Horrors.  Would have finished, but my DD wanted to finish it with me. So we finished it the next day.  And probably best not to have her watching huge plants that eat people right before bed!  *grin*


Day 3 - Started Plying

Created via Instragram's photo collage:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzriip2BZtIcI2C3Kbxu9oSgkBb8Hxo_kU-XQQ0/

Started plying.  Probably should have let it rest more.  But....  Not that patient.  And want my Akerwork bobbins for the next project!

Love the way it is turning out.  Parts look very much like candy cane.  Other bits look like pink cotton candy!   Think it will be fun and DD loves it.

For musicals, we finished Little Shop of Horrors & also watched the musical episode from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  The kids have been hearing the music in the car for most of their lives! 

Debating when Elder Munchkin is old enough to watch the tv series.  She seems to love vampires & more.  And one of her fav shows at the moment is My Babysitter Is a Vampire.  Buffy is *definitely* older.  But we'll see...

I have to give a huge shout out to Akerworks - https://www.akerworks.com/ LOVE the bulky bobbin I got. 

I had serious issues with the bulky Woolee Winder flyer with my Ladybug.  The wood bobbins combined with the weight of the WW flyer made it way too heavy & took too much force to treadle.

I had been thinking I would sell the WW bulky flyer.  But since the Akerworks bobbin is much lighter, it spins wonderfully.  Hooray!

And even more awesome, I won it as a prize with last year's TdF Akerworks group.  So I didn't have to spend more money to see if it would work with the bulky flyer.  I would gladly pay them for it!  I know I really want to buy more of the regular bobbins.  Love them.  And really want at least one or two more for 3 plies & maybe letting bobbins rest before plying!

Day 4 - More Plying

Created via Instragram's photo collage:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzuKhsfhdpIzcJXTt6I4pB6h7cMs22Bz6Q8NrY0/

Loving it still.  Though seems slow going.  Tuesday through Thursday, I work in NYC.  And my commute is about 2 hours each way.  So I spend about 4 hours in transit.  So on those days, I know I won't make as much progress...

Day 5 - Yet More Plying

I got home late as I got stuck at work.  So I was way late.  Impressed I got anything done!  But I did a good chunk of spinning.

Created via Instragram's photo collage:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz0OMlqhKsuclDhxcHh2LlTnVEsfJSofXqyK340/

Day 6 - You Guessed It!  PLYING!

Yep.  Yet more plying! 

Created via Instragram's photo collage:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz0O55bB1Hw3SSBXd3VIPP9S61C5JS26EvQCPo0/

Ran out of singles on one bobbin.  So I am breaking it at a good color transition & plying it together.  On the one hand, that means I am getting close.  On the other, the bobbins are very uneven in length.  A lot more on the bobbin I spun this year. 

I am curious what this means as I have a pretty dormant ply with an active one for most of the plying.  But the last bit will be two active plies. Not sure how it will behave.

Just gonna have to see when it gets it bath!

I really think this needs to be the warp of something like a scarf where if there are tension differences it can look artsy.   Not sure it will or if it will just look like bad weaving!  But I figure it should be interesting.  And having it with a warp of a more commercial yarn should help.  I may even have a nice Dresden colorway yarn to compliment it. 

Hoping to get the plying finished tonight.  *fingers crossed*  TGIF!

Not sure if I will do more musicals tonight.  Or if I will watch more Stranger Things...  Hubby has to go to a board meeting tonight.  So I have solo tv time after the kids head to bed.  Decisions decisions!

Tour de Fleece Day 1 - Back to Spinning

It is funny how I go almost completely silent for a whole year except when I got a new-to-me loom! 

Then it is Tour de Fleece time!

Signed up for the Schacht & Akerwork teams again.  Didn't see anything for Into the Whirled and was sad.  But last minute, they posted an unofficial team.  So happy they did.

I decided to also participate in Team Warped.  It is with the Warped Weavers groups.  Since most of my fiber goes onto my loom, figured it was a good team.

I generally pick a team for watching while I spin.  Last year was Babylon 5.  I have also done Firefly, Doctor Who & others.  This year I wanted to do musicals as a theme.  Much to my surprise, I really didn't find a musicals group on Ravelry.  *blink*  There are ones for certain musicals.  And even two for Hamilton. Closest was Movie and TV Show Soundtracks.  But with 18 members & no recent posts, I didn't figure they have a team.

So I am just doing my own thing!  Will try some new musicals as well as ones I love.  If anyone actually reads this anymore, suggestions are welcome!

Day 1 - Jukebox Musicals!

For the start of the Tour de Fleece I wanted FUN!

I actually wanted Little Shop of Horrors.  But much to my HORROR, I don't own it!  *blink*  I had it on VHS.  And in the purge before moving, I let go 99% of my VHS.  I kept a couple things not available on DVD.  But everything else was let go.

I was browsing Netflix, Amazon Prime & HBO in hopes that someone had Little Shop.  No luck.  Ordered it on BluRay for the same price as purchasing it streaming.  With special features & both the theatrical & director cuts. 

In looking, I added a bunch to my watch lists.  One I stumbled across is a jukebox musical called Walking On Sunshine.  Loads of silly 80s music.  And it fit the bill.  Light, bouncy & lively.

I left the drive band on the back post when I switched the bobbins at the end of LAST YEAR'S TDF!!  So it stretched out.  So grateful my Ladybug has the drive band tension adjuster!  Otherwise I don't think I would have been able to start spinning as I had stretched the band out with it sitting like that for a year!

Much to my embarrassment, I still have half of The First Draft Polwarth/Silk in the Thomas Waith Is in Love colorway from LAST YEAR'S TFD on the wheel!  I had finished the first set of singles.  Though in some fairness, I spent EIGHT DAYS spinning the first half!  Wow...

It's on my Akerworks bobbins.  So I need to get them cleared off.  So I started the Tour spinning the second half of the fiber.  Though either I am spinning it to thick or I am spinning faster.  Between Day 1 & some of Day 2, it is about 3/4th done.

I am trying to be smart & take breaks in spinning.  Given I haven't in eons, it makes sense.  It seems to be working well as I am not sore for Day 2.

I also watched Mamma Mia.  Have watched it before.  It is fun.  Not in my top 10 musicals.  But I was looking for jukebox & light.  Fit the bill. 

In addition, I started on Hunky Dory.  Hunky Dory is set in the late 70s.  It is about a teacher in a school in Wales putting contemporary music in Shakespeare's "The Tempest."  A bit slower paced which is not a problem.  But I also decided to take a break last night to play some Borderlands 2 with DH.

I am happy with my progress!  I finished about 2/3rds of the remaining fiber.   I think that is excellent progress.  My only concern is that I may not be spinning it as thin as the half I did last year.  But we will see when I ply it!  Mind you, plying will be interesting given half has been sitting on the bobbin for nearly a year.  So the spring to it will be very different.

Here is the progress pic:

Created via Instagram's photo collage:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzoNGN_h8O-3gthLZBF6PxqMf_MCUZqlOjJtc40/

The details are on my Ravelry page:
https://ravel.me/akasha/twdfl

And for anyone wondering about the colors, this is definitely from my daughter!  Soooo not a pink gal.  *laugh*

Hoping to get back to posting pics on Flickr.  Of course, since it was bought, the service has gotten worse while the cost has doubled...  *sigh*  May be time to start shopping for a new photo service.  Sucks as I have had almost a decade with Flickr.  But it isn't working a lot recently...

Finished Scarf

I didn't realize that I hadn't shown the finished scarf!  My bad!







Overall, I really like it!  Think it went well & looks good.

There are definitely some funky spots & wonky edges.  I think that is about my issues getting the warp on the loom.  Made mistakes & learned.  But overall, I think it is a good charity scarf.  Definitely not perfect, but good.

I can't recall if I read this somewhere or just thought of it when when looking for a cutting board.

Having a cutting board with inch measurements & a rotary cutter makes cutting fringe a whole lot simplier.

I know I read/saw the bit about using a heavy book to weigh down a project when dealing with fringe.  It works well for cutting as well as twisted fringe.  The Jansen History of Art is my go to as it is big & heavy!



A roll of the rotary cutter & nice even ends.





Hooray for my first project on the new-to-me loom!

Learning About My New-To-Me Loom

I was finally able to get the warp tied up on the Medico loom Sunday.  Hooray for that!

Isn't it lovely?

I know.  It is grey.  But I think grey is lovely!  And she is finally dressed!

I forgot how much pre-prep work I did when I got the Schacht I got in February of last year.  There are a lot of things that I forgot completely.  Simple stuff like cutting the paper to wind on the warp.  Little things like figuring out a way to keep up the shaft.  Or get the rod that I use to attach to the back to stand up while rough sleighing it.

In some cases, it was just do what works on the Schacht.  For instance, with the rod I use to attach to the back apron, I just attached a piece of elastic wound twice to the center of the loom so that it will stay in place.  Works well for the Medico, same as the Schacht.  They are both table looms so it make sense that they have some of the same parts.

With holding up the frames when doing the threading & such, the Schacht table loom was just putting the levers up or down.  With the Medico, I found a wooden box that was the perfect height. The box works well to put it under the frames to hold them up high enough to make threading pretty easy.

I spent EONS trying to figure out how to attach the length of cord to get the rod onto the front apron.  The previous owner gave me the cord her aunt had with the loom to attach to a rod.  Read lots about cloth aprons as I never have had a loom with one.  Greatpiece by the awesome Peggy Osterkam about how to attach to an apron rod.   Also listened to the Floor Loom Weaving Craftsy class.

The instructor, Janet Dawson, suggests attaching strings to a rod/squared piece of wood.  But they need to be the same exact length.  And I worried that I wouldn't get it right.  So I went with lashing the whole length of the rod.

I think it would do better for me if I attach the rod in several places as suggested by Janet Dawson.  So to that end, I decided it was worth the money to order some Texsolv cord.  I plan to redo some pieces on the loom with the Texsolv.  It is a bit more pricey than standard nylon cord.  But the flip side is that it does well under tension & is supposed to last eons. So I think it is worth the investment.  Hoping it arrives before the next project goes on the loom.

I also realize little differences.  Like when I am winding the paper on the front beam of the Medico, I can't just let it dangle in the same way as the Schacht.  Since the Medico has the conversion to a floor kit, I have to have access to the treadles.  I realize that it is best to wind the paper around the supports.  Keeps it up & out of the way.

 

Funny how a simple thing like how to wind a bobbin is something you can forget.  I got it down after a couple again.  But there was some uneven bobbins as well.  Just funny that I had to go through it again to remember.  The last few projects have been bulker yarn.  So I uses the stick shuttle.

One of the things I love about crafting is learning.  And trying new things.  That is a lot of the fun.  And I like keeping my mind at work.  It is good for me!

The project on the loom is a simple charity scarf.  The local knit/crochet group does charity projects.  Next up is Veterans and/or the homeless.  And I figured a scarf would be good.  And unlike knitting a scarf, weaving goes super fast. 

I took bits from multiple yarns.  I realized that just because it is a charity scarf, I could still add some color & pattern to it.  I went with acrylic since it is washable which is critical with charity knits.

I had thought the grey was a washable acrylic/wool blend when I chose it.  But I realized it was all acrylic.  So not super warm.  But okay.

I played with different patterns with the color sections.  And watched some Army of Darkness.

View outside the window...

And I think her name is Shira.  It was the name I was debating & after weaving with her, I think that is it.

Shira is a Black Widow from the Black Jewels series by Anne Bishop.  She is a healer.  Which I think works well with the Medico being an occupational therapy loom.  I feel like it fits her. 

Getting There...Slowly...

So after a lot of debating, I figured something simple was wiser for the new-to-me loom. 

I decided to just go with what I thought was a washable wool/acrylic blend with a charity scarf in mind. (Actually, all acrylic when I checked on Ravelry.)

Got 20 WPI on 2". So I thought 10 sett.

Weavers may already see an issue...

Wound the warp. Went with 80 threads as I figured it would make a nice 8" wide scarf.

Tied the warp before taking it off the warping board. As I am pulling if off, I realize I was criss crossing between the first 2 pegs of the cross. Took it off...shook it out to get the usual loop. Thought it would be okay & hoped for the best.

If I were a good weaver, I would have rewound the warp. But I didn't...

This may be lesson 1.

I was also trying the 2 strands at a time method recommended in the Craftsy class.  Not sure if that had any impact on me not picking up  the issue with the cross.  Or just that I didn't start and triple check as it was supposed to be an easy warp.  *laugh*

With the help of DH, I got the warp wound onto the back beam.  I hadn't cut paper for the new-to-me look.  Being me...said no problem.  It was a short warp (over the 72" I was going with...probably more like 90"-100".)  And with the canvas apron, it would be fine.  Again...probably not my brightest move.

Took off the end ties while getting the last bit wound onto the back beam. I should have waited to keep the tension on the ends until I was a bit closer to threading the heddles...  Yeah...  *sigh*

I started rough sleighing it. Realize that 10 sett would be way too dense! So resleighed to 6.   Figured it could be a small lap blanket or wrap instead.  Or maybe even fold it over to a double thickness scarf.  I would figure it out.

Somehow I screwed up the lease sticks! The yarn wasn't over both of them. No idea how I did that. Ugh.

And see above about pulling the end ties off while getting it wound on. *Sigh*

Continued with the rough sleighing.  Thought it was going well. But as I got closer to the end, the less I could get them in order!

 After a lot of trying & tangles, I finally decided, I should cut off the tangled ones at the end. It was less likely to be a mess.

Honestly, not sure if that is the truth. But I figure I will give it a try... If nothing else, it will be a learning experience!

So it is currently at 58 threads.  And at 6 sett, it should be about 9 2/3" wide.  Still really wide.  Ah well.  Time will tell.



But not the best start with the new to me loom!  But at least it was inexpensive yarn.  So if it was an epic fail, I think I only lost a couple bucks on the materials. 

Honestly, I am really glad I decided to go simple.  And with cheaper materials.  Had I put on the Spunky Eclectic kit or the yarn for the pillows from the Craftsy class, it would have been a bigger issue.  At worst, I have wasted time & a few $$ if this is an epic fail.  And hey, live and learn!

Isn't She Lovely?

I wrote this on Monday but didn't have a chance to post it until today.  It has been one of those weeks!

At last, she is done!  Just waiting to get dressed!

She has a new brake circle & spring that DH got installed today.  As well as screws for the treadle bar on the bottom. 

I ironed the apron cloth.  Though you still wouldn't know from looking at it...  It still looks wrinkled after multiple pressings.  I spent an HOUR AND A HALF on trying to staple the canvas cloths back on to the beams.  My hands are still sore.

There was a lot of stapling & pulling out the staples multiple times before I got it flat & deep enough to have it hold on the canvas.  Whee...

Here's about half the pile of regrets.

 

Some people who restore looms a lot suggested tacks.  But both the sets of tacks DH & I got were too wide at the base.  I feared it would tear the cloth.  So I went with the staples.  But the maple fought me very well!  *laugh*

Hopefully, this will work okay.

So now she just needs a warp to be dressed. 

I thought I had decided on what project was going on her.  But I may have changed my mind.  Maybe...

I got some stuff for weaving at NY S&W yesterday. So I am kinda tempted to give that a shot.  But while it is interesting stuff, it isn't something I have done before. So I really wonder if that is a wise first project for her.  Though that is part of the appeal.  To see how that works.  But I am not sure how some of it will hold up in the warp.  Mind you, there is some of it that I think may do better in the weft.  Or maybe held with a more stable thread.  So come back to the debating what to put on the loom!  *laugh*

I am so thrilled she can be dressed.  And that she is back in working condition.  I think the new brake circle & spring will be terrific for her.  And really make a difference. 

So hooray!

So Close....

So last night I got the heddles back on the shafts.  One step closer to the loom being ready to be warped! 

I thought I had more heddles than I do.  I am a bit disappointed about that.  When I counted, I really thought I just under 100 on each shaft.  But it was 78 on 2 shafts & 79 on the other two.  So a total of 314.  I would have order some with the loom parts had I realized that.  Given they are only $12 per 100, I definitely would have gotten another 100.  But I can also do that at a later date.

I still need to see if the flat Schacht ones will fit on the Medico.  I love them.  But there is still some warp on the Schacht.  And I told my daughter that she can play with it.  So I need to leave them on it.  Mind you, I have some extras.  Which of course I can't locate!  *laugh*  Still have boxes that aren't unpacked over a year after moving...  *sigh*

The brake parts, lease sticks & raddle arrived yesterday!  HOORAY!  So I have everything.  Maybe...

I am still unclear how to lash the warp to the cloth rod...  I will have to see I guess.  I may need some sort of rod or something.  I got wood dowel for the table loom.  I was thinking I should get some of that & cut it down.  But the Craftsy class recommends a metal rod or a square wood piece.  So I am debating what I want to do.

I tested out the staple gun I have.  It will work to get the canvas apron onto the cloth roller.   So that is good as well.  Happier with that than using the tacks for a few reasons. I think the tacks stick up more.  Also, I worry that they are wider at the base so the cloth might rip under tension as it is putting a bigger hole in the canvas.

My hubby is also trying to figure out how to get the old brake off as it is a square screw head for it.  He thinks he probably has one.  But finding it is another story...

So it's getting there. 

This weekend has a lot going on.  Including hopefully going to NY S&W this Sunda!  But I took off Monday to recoup.  So with any luck, I could get a warp on it Monday.  But I am not betting on that!  Hopefully, the weekend after next.  *fingers crossed*