Week 37 of 2024

I finished the set of three towels (two with plain cotton and one with bouclé) -

I am so pleased with how they turned out. The pattern (Heavy Meta towels by Plain Weave) is so lovely.

There have been many firsts for me with weaving these towels.

Another one was cutting off some finished towels before I finished weaving the whole warp.

I tightly wove a few inches, added a lease stick and wove a bit more, then cut off the towels.

I tied the warp back on, ready for weaving. I think I have enough for two more towels.

My plans are to experiment, then tie on a new warp so I don't have to thread this pattern again (that is where I had the most problems) - that will be another first for me too.

I also wove a narrow band on an inkle loom, to make loops for the towels.

The finished band (about 34").

Works in Progress-

Temperature blanket.

Handspun socks (with a little help from a friend).

Pets-

Our new little friend, Ginger Cat, is doing well. He finished his medication and is no longer limping. He must have been very sick when he arrived at our door, because he is like a new cat - so full of energy, and very playful.

He does love the chickens,

and Molly (although she still doesn't quite know what to do with an affectionate cat).

Miss Maggie is still not too happy, but there have been improvements.

So many chicken photos! They are 19 weeks now (still no eggs).

All the best!♥︎

Week 36 of 2024

I am still really enjoying weaving on the Meta towels-

Finished the second towel,

and started the third one in cotton bouclé.

Hopefully there are no temperature blanket police checking.

Photos from Around - 

Sunrise over the pond.

Morning walk.

Going to be windy.

Blackbirds on the other pond.

Now mainly the beloved pets!

Best friends

Checking each other out.

I can't imagine what they are thinking about Molly.

The chickens are so curious.

18 weeks now.

A good resting spot (his leg is still recovering).

Plenty of rest - tongue out and all.

I don't know what is happening with blogger but it is becoming so frustrating trying to write blog posts recently!

All the best!♥︎

Week 35 of 2024

This week I finished the first of the towels on the loom. 

My speed has improved - now about an hour to weave 4"! It is really an amazing pattern - I don't fully understand the ins and outs, but it is a joy to weave.

There are three different weave patterns going on at the same time. The bold graphic "woven" pattern in the pale green, a more subtle diamond pattern throughout the whole cloth, even in the grey sections (also woven with the green thread),

and a background of plain weave underlying everything (shown here in the hems at the end of one towel and the start of the next - the white thick cotton will be the cutting line). The plain weave makes the towels strong and holds everything together. The grey is the same as the warp.

The towels are woven with two shuttles thrown one after the other. The pale green cotton thread (an 8/2) is twice as thick as the grey cotton thread (a 16/2).

All ten treadles on the loom are used - I use rubber bands on the treadles so my feet can distinguish between each section of treadles needed for each weave pattern. The two on the left are for the plain weave. The next three are for the diamond pattern, and the five on the right are for the different parts that make up the graphic "woven" pattern. Every pale green pattern thread needs two treadles pressed at the same time (this is a skeleton tie-up and the first time I have every tried it - it is not as scary as I thought it would be).

On the back of the towel the colours are reversed.

The second towel has a different treadling sequence.

This project of an "everlasting flower bouquet" was a much quicker project to finish (just a few hours). I was inspired by something I had seen on Pinterest (then Etsy - link). I used scraps of glass, and salvaged copper wire from electrical wire (not the strongest but it is what I had). Hard to photograph, it looks better in real life.

Temperature blanket.

Photos from Around - 

Ginger Cat was back at the vet this week - his leg still hasn't healed.

We are really hoping that this isn't the reason he was "thrown away", or that more drastic measures will be needed. At least we found out he doesn't have any of the scary feline diseases.

Maggie still stays away from him - the chickens don't mind him.

17 weeks old now.

The asters and golden rods are in full bloom now.

Morning walk.

All the best!♥︎