The Loom is in the House!

Oh, the thrill.

I found this gem in a thrift shop a couple years ago.

She was marked reasonably and everything in the store 

happened to be 1/2 off that day.

So I thought for about a minute - really maybe a whole minute.

I was driving the pickup that day for whatever reason.

It was fate:)

She has sat in the shop for a couple years, and

every so often, I would take the shop-vac to her.

 She was dirty and tangled when I brought her in.

I took the vacuum to her as well as a lot of 'Old English.'

I cut strings that were binding.

What is on her now is a rag rug that was started at some point in her life.

I just left it on there so I can take mental notes as I remove it all.

I have met one or two nice folks who have offered to help me learn

how to get her set up for weaving.

I have been asked what kind of loom she is and other questions about her

that I have no idea how to answer.

After cleaning her thoroughly,

I can still find no makers name plate or stamp anywhere.

If someone can tell me what I have,

please leave me a comment.

As long as she works properly, it really doesn't matter to me,

but it would sure be nice to know.

There is now a whole slough of words and verbiage I need to learn.

petals, rutter, appendix etc. haha

I do know I will need different shuttles that what came with her so

again any suggestions as to which ones are preferred would be welcome.

Any words of advise will be greatly appreciated.

I am anxious to see what kind of tangled mess I can weave now.

Of course now, all kinds of projects come to mind that I can make 

in all that spare time I have.

I needed another hobby like I need a hole in my head.

But I suppose, when we quit learning, we quit living - right?

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

Need a Good Laugh?

I won't even make you guess...

It's yarn, yes, yarn - 2 ply even:)

What do you think I should make with it - heeheehee?

I mentioned before, I was learning to spin.

I might be one of those sslllooow learners,

but at least I have produced something.

I think it rather looks like fishing net.

It kinda took a long time to get through

as I am really a quilter.

I am not a spinner in real life - just in my dreams.

Today there was a "Spin-in."

It was a wonderful chilly grey day for being inside

with a bunch of fun gals and lots of fiber.

Gals began slipping their shoes off & I noticed something interesting.

Nearly all of us had wool socks on.

Yep, those are vampire teeth on the back of those socks:)

Marie wore black??? Don't know about that gal.

In case you can't tell from the photo on the left, here is a close up of her pants. 

Renee was using her drop spindle (left.)

That yarn was absolutely beautiful.

I was, am, and I'm sure will continue to be amazed 

at the talent that was gathered in this room.

This is a new group event.

The first Saturday of the month from here on out.

I knew a couple of the gals,

but for the most part met new creative people.

I have to say the generosity of these gals was phenomenal.

If you want to learn, they'll get you going. 

Fair warning: 

Like most worthy hobbies, it's addicting!

I don't knit or crochet so don't know what I will do

with 'real' yarn assuming I am ever able to produce any.

For now, I am just enjoying the learning and the laughter.

I hope you have a day filled with as much enjoyment.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

Drop Spindle Spinning

Have you ever been mesmerized by the vast knowledge

of someone and their talent?

Renee was someone I had never met & was kind enough to

teach me how to spin using drop spindle.  She showed me different 

dying products (some of which I've used on fabric:) and the

processing from a fleece to a fiber - so to speak.

She got me started with a spindle made from a couple of CDs

and a dowel and even provided me with some prepared 

fibers (both wool, but of different sorts) to get start on.

Yes, here you can see my very uneven yarn.  I was doing okay

the evening she showed me... then... I waited a few nights

before trying it again.  Aaaah- I had to re learn so the yarn

went from really chunky to pretty fine as I remembered just

what I was doing. 

 The white is really long fibers and the 'old man green' as I like

to call it is regular ol' wool.  In addition to showing me all

of these fun things, she introduced me to her spindle collection.

Oh, some of them were just beautiful.  A Turkish one that

came apart so your wool was in a ball when you were done, and

one with an ebony spindle and a wooden (can't remember what type)

of whorl.  I just love the terms as well.  They sound like words

from a faerie tale.

Anyways~ I had these clay discs that I got in a box of "stuff"

at an estate sale.  I hung onto them because they were

kinda interesting.  I thought, "I'll find something to do with them."

Well, I did.

The first I left the dowel plain, the second cherry stain, third oak, 

and last walnut.  I thought I might as well play with stain too.  

I love how they turned out.  

I haven't used them yet - I won't tell you how long

it took me to do what is on the spindle in the picture above :)

But, I am looking forward to using them.  I love the

long wool that I have started with - will have to find out

what it is.  I'm curious to see how I do with the green.

Don't you love learning 'how to' things.

I would eventually like to learn how to use a spinning wheel, 

but right now, it would be a waste of fiber.  I need to get

better at drafting (pulling the fibers to feed them into the yarn)

More words - love it!  A whole new world to me.

Again, thank you Renee. 

Until next time,

Even Stitches and Nimble Fingers