Falling to Pieces

I was so happy to be finally returning to some normalcy.   Weaving again, even if for short periods and slower.    It takes me longer to weave an item and so I nibble away at the inches carefully. I was on towel number four of seven when I noticed an ache in my right shoulder that radiated to my top of my spine.    I stopped right away and used an ice pack and some advil. 

Next day I felt like a truck had run over my shoulder  and now the pain radiated down the outside of my bicep to my elbow and down into my wrist.

No, it's not frozen shoulder, but nerve impingement. I swear if I didn't have bad luck, I'd have none  at all! 

So for the past three weeks, I medicate, and apply ice packs and  no weaving or even spinning (as that's my dominant arm / hand).  I have been playing with drafts and designs.... and reading some of my weaving library. I figure that if I can't weave as much or as often, then when I do a new project, it should be something special.

Oh, and yes I'm feeling a tad bit depressed.  I already had a seven month holiday due to my lower back and stenosis so I thought I would be able to enjoy my life more again. 

NOPE!

I developed a ganglion cyst on my right instep and I can't even wear shoes. So waiting on a Doctor to deal with that and I'm certain it will involve needles and pain.  

Then my big toe on my left foot became infected and so I am dealing with that issue as well.

So.... yeah, depression is a thing.  😬

The blue gel icepacks are a life saver!  I rest one behind my shoulder and lay my elbow and arm on a second one and that's my evening in a nutshell. 

I do have two lace shawls to photograph but its been way too dark to photograph them properly so they wait patiently.

I had to pause my Etsy shop due to a nationwide postal strike..... so no joy there. Bah Humbug to all those concerned. 

I'm getting a lot of reading done and we have been enjoying the joys of streaming TV  .... with ice packs. 

For those of you who are weaving up a storm, throw one for me please!

On My Loom Now 📸

 When I start something new, I usually weave some towels to get use to the changes. New dobby on the loom, so more towels.  

This is a 16 shaft twill and basket weave, most likely from Handweaving.net but I seem to have misplaced the number. It drove me crazy looking for threading errors! So I have declared there were none....

8 yard warp of Venne cotton and all wefts used for the 7 towels will be linen. This is 9/2 French linen from Brassards. The reverse side is darker....a mirror image.

It’s good to be weaving again, even if for short periods. If my back starts to make its presence known, I stop or move onto something else. 

The draft is nifty and I have had it in my ‘to-do’ file for a long time. There was a post it note attached with the handweaving.net number and it dropped off. I checked my copy on Fiberworks as I usually keep the number under the ‘notes and records’ and I didn’t add it….. but this would have been years ago so I’ll just have to look around on the website.

I’m also enjoying the weaving and looking at it from the view point of where to add colour in the warp next time I weave it up again. How to make the celtic knot work more ‘out there.' 

Busy Bee 🐝 Mother Earth

To close out October (where did the month go? 😳 )  .... some spinning show and tell for you.  This pretty fibre came from  "Beesybee Fibers" on Etsy. They have some gorgeous colour ways and quick shipping.

 

It was a lovely spin up with very high quality fibre.  This has a fine micron wool blended with silk.  Some other colours may have fallen into the shopping cart too.   Oops... 😁

All washed up and some were made into cakes for convenience.... and a skein as it's a classic. 

Now that I'm back weaving, I'm spinning less but enjoy the time on the Hansen very much. No regrets buying this e-spinner one bit. 

Swan Song

 Today, my Spring loom hit the road in a comfortable ride to its new home about 2-3 hours drive south of us here on Vancouver Island.   It was hard to feel sad when the new owner, a lovely lady and friend, was so darn excited!

Here's the loom in her little nook, and photographed from outside.  Looks cozy huh?  

Her start began 16 years ago in October 2008 when two large boxes were delivered and I began to set her up.  She came pretty well trussed up!

Louet does things very well and even use combinations of very heavy cardboard with sections of wood for strength.  It's a long and sometimes rough road from Holland to their destinations.

With a 90 cm or 34 inch weaving width, she handled many projects but this was her widest. A blanket for my new grand daughter. I had to tie back the unused heddles!

Her narrowest project was 2 inch wide book marks, sett 50 epi.    I'm doing the tie up in this shot.

As you can see, with the Spring 90 being lighter, lifting her up to do tie up's is a big help for those of us with creaky joints.  She maybe small, and light on her feet, but she can do anything the Big Boys do!

This was her last lift for a tie up.... and that tie up is in place for the new owner to try out. 

All cleaned up and stripped down (to a point) and ready to go.  Bench and assorted stuff to go along.

Today, She was carried out to a comfy trailer to travel in comfort and stay dry.

Big supply of pillows, blankets to cover any bare spots!

And as I wrote this last part, the phone rang and they are now home after a long day and the loom is sitting next to her Fanny loom and settling in.   

I'll share the Spring's last weaving project in my next post..... we have had dark skies and atmospheric rivers of rain so not conducive to taking pictures lately. 

EDIT:   The morning after......  going to have to think on some decorating ideas.....

SOLD :Seeking a New Home

SOLD  (wow that was fast! 😳)

For Sale: 12 shaft / 14 treadle Louet Spring 90cm (35 1/2 ”) Loom

This small but mighty countermarch loom is a real little workhorse ! I have woven everything  but rugs on this loom; from light laces to shawls, scarves, towels and table linens. You can use just 2 shafts, 4 or 8 or more and it will grow with your weaving experience.

Its small floor 'foot print’ makes it ideal for smaller homes and spaces, and it does everything the larger floor looms do.  Louet’s beautiful craftsmanship and well thought out designs makes for easy warping. It features a floating breast beam for the same tension every time you advance the warp.  CD byJane Stafford comes along as a bonus on how to beam a warp. 

There is a generous shed and easy action on the treadles. Front attached treadles and all cords run over pulleys and so is easy on your joints . I was able to weave right up to joint replacement surgery and again at 4-5 weeks post op. 

Tie ups are straightforward but the loom can be carefully lifted up onto crates and then sit to do the tie up. The photo above shows my current and last shawl project nearly completed, so it's all tied up for a lovely 8 shaft huck lace and I will leave this tie up in place and provide a copy of the draft. Wind and beam a warp, and weave right away.   

Its time to sell due to health issues.   Visit  https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Weever   Any project here that is 12 shafts or less was woven on this lovely loom.  

This package includes:

• Loom, new in October 2008, with 12 shafts and 14 treadles   (current value to purchase new: $10,500.00)
• Over 1200 heddles, and scads of texsolv tie up cords.
• Woolhouse Tools commuter bench (new 1997), adjustable height, seat can slide to reach treadles or be pinned in place. Made from hand select birch and Danish oil finish. (value: $450.00)
• Louet made second warp beam (not attached and needs a small modification to fit)  (value: $850+  )
• 5 reeds: 39” 6 dent, 36” 8 dent, 36” 10 dent, 36” 12 dent, & 36” 15 dent  (value: $170.00 each x 5)  
• 3D printed covers for the built in raddle  (value: $25.00)
• 3D printed slip covers for treadle screw covers (value: $38.00)
• A set of “Helping Hands” by Lofty Fibers (3D printed) warping assist brackets (value: $48.00)
• Pair of original lease sticks
• A set of 16 Louet warping sticks (value: $36.00)
• A 12” Leclerc shuttle and 3 bobbins (value: $55.00)
• Leclerc reed hook, and a reed sley hook
• 14 yard warping board, that comes apart for storage (value: $150.00)
• Original manuals and paperwork

Its a complete weaving package and all you need to add is the yarn!

Loom is pick up only in Campbell River, BC, Canada. Dimensions can be provided .    Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to view by prior arrangement..

Asking: $4800.00 for all. Susan  / thrumstextiles@gmail.com 

 Now if you have trouble getting down to do a tie up:  I recommend two people to do the lift and to set it back down. Then I would sit on a low stool and do the tie up cords. I print up the tie up square and isolate the row I'm working on.    (do a quick one tie to secure  the treadles that won't be used so they don't flop around when the loom is being shifted up or down) I have never left tie up cords in place and only used enough for the tie up in play. Spare cords hanging confuse the view and can tangle up and cause issues. Usually when changing the tie up to a new draft, some cords will be in the right place already and only a few need changing. 

Helping Hands being used on the Spring

Blog post with the process

I've approx 25 inches more to weave on the last project.... and saying good bye with each pick.  🥹 

Write me if you have any questions.....

Illuminations

 I have another spinning show and tell for you!   I bought some pretty roving from a UK company called Fellview Fibres.     They have consistently beautiful colorways and quality fibres to spin up. A real treat for the senses.

This roving colorway was inspired by the illuminated manuscripts from various ancient abbeys such as Lindisfarne and the Book of Kells.  Carol has three or four colour ways in this series but this one appealed to me for its softness of yarn and color.

The truth was it was a bit of a challenge to spin as the fine merino and silk liked to stay separate and it was a struggle at times to keep a flow moving. So it was a slow spin up and I would do a 50 gram amount and then do something else for a change and then go back and do another.  Eventually, when I dug for another bundle, it was all gone. 

So this was apparently the last 50 gram ball to be spun up.... and the balance shown were in various stages.   Such as 'on the rack' or noddy noddy.

All skeined up and ready for a soaking.

Washed and dried and behaving like it was never a 'problem child" 😁

I wound each skein into cakes and they store up nicely, ready for use.  (For sale in my Etsy store: Thrums Textiles)

My next new adventure?   Learning to use a Turkish drop spindle!

A friend convinced me to give them a try. They make a neat little centre pull ball called a 'turtle' and you can easily ply from two turtles.  The spindle parts all come apart for easy storage and for releasing the turtle from captivity!   🐢     Checking the mail box daily for it to come!   I hear they are addictive and you need more than one.... a whole herd perhaps?    😁

Autumn Pumpkin 🧶 🍂

 I thought I would share some of my hand spun efforts. It was all I could do for 7 months so there will be a few more posts to come as well.

A fine merino with a dash of silk.... from Aurelia Fibers, which I believe is now closed.

🎃

Total yardage is 399 meters or 439 yards.  Total weight is 192 grams or 6.7 ounces. It was a lovely spin up and I quite enjoyed it.

I wound them into cakes using my nifty new ball winder.... I love it! 

Today is the Fall Equinox and the official start of Autumn, pumpkin season and all things to do with spinning, weaving, knitting....     🧶

Golden Fairy Garden

Some time late last year I bought a painted silk warp from Carr Park Artisan's similar to this one. It was 200 ends and 6 1/2 yards long.   Not really wide enough and not really long enough but I loved the colours!    Also, it's *silk* , the princess of natural fibres!

I knew the 16 shaft draft I wanted to use as it has the beautiful effect of playing with colour and make them appear to flow and shift.  Draft #78116 at Handweaving.net /  designed by Ingrid Boesel in the Thrilling Twills Collection.

Picture 'borrowed' from Carr Park Artisans  

I dug deep in the stash and found a silk bronze gold and a rich silk purple and these gave me nice borders and a width for the scarves I could feel good about.    At 28 epi, the 200 ends would have looked like a neck tie! Here's a peek at the warp on the loom and you can see the flow of the colors.

 I got it all set up in late November 2023 and made a start.... and then I hurt my back in early December.   It would be 7 months before I healed enough to be relatively pain free to weave again.  I also took some time to be depressed and think over my options.

At first I thought I might never be able to weave again.  We use our backs so much in the motions of everything we do at a loom.    Then an MRI showed that I have several disc issues and stenosis, plus my spine moved forward by 9 mm at L3-4 with the disc shifting out the back by 6 mm. Bending forward is a risky thing for me.    I raise up my Spring onto crates to do the tie-up and sit on a low stool. This involves bending / leaning forward and I'd rather not do this.  I love this loom and bought it new 16 years ago and have kept it full and busy all that time.  But with the Megado, there's no tie up to deal with at all.

Besides, there isn't any weaving I can't do on the Megado loom from 2 shafts to 16, and as I always said "there is only one bum for a bench"   😁     I have also acquired a LOT of tools, equipment and books over the last 28-30 years and its time to downsize voluntarily and not end up as one of those "dead weaver estate sales".  I have to say the extra money, space and reduction of stuff is liberating!    Once the Spring loom has moved onto a new home, I'm even thinking of getting a nice comfy chair so I can sit in the empty alcove and read. 

But the Spring is still has a warp being woven (slowly) off and that is all down the road for now.....

Meet Fairy Garden.... woven with olive 8/2 tencel and measures 11" wide by 80 inches long.  Yup, I lost count from weaving one session 7 months ago to more recent.  My notes vanished in the meantime.

The colours flow as I had imagined....

Yes, it's the same scarf but the sun washed out the colours. The true colour is the other photos.

For the second scarf I had to think hard about a warp colour.... and the best option was a 10/2 tencel in a pale gold.  I bought a 3 pound cone of it off of Ebay years ago and it never disappoints. Its also not available anymore sadly.

This is Fairy Gold.... and it's a much softer blending of the colours and it's a quieter beauty.

It's 11" by 72".... so a good length.  Seems the 6.5 yard warp was enough after all as I took my fringe length from the loom waste at either end.   I also didn't get my customary sample for my notes.

So finally some show and tell at long last.... thanks for waiting. 💝