Moving forward on all fronts

24 February, 2009
2009-02-23_socks
The state of my desk. Call in recruits.

I am inching towards completion of many, many things. Yes, indeed, that is five pairs of socks at my desk. Not including the two pairs that are currently in my knitting bag. I don’t think this is the ideal situation, but things are the way they are. I knit two rows on one then two rows on another… two rows is about all my attention span can handle right now. Having finished a little February baby sweater for a friend (she’s due anytime now!), I’m satisfied with just working on simple stockinette socks… that have been in my in-progress bin for the past five years.

2009-02-23_scarfloom
Rich, royal purple warp. This yarn is very springy.
2009-02-23_scarf
Tsumugi silk makes everything interesting.

There is this handwoven scarf on the loom that is distracting me… the kettle-dyed colours of Malabrigo plus the texture and groundedness of the tsumugi silk weft and making me very happy. I have maybe 10 or 12 inches more to weave and then it will be cut off and washed. It seems silly that after all the expense and space of getting a 44″ wide 8-shaft loom, I end up weaving 9″-wide scarves in plain weave. Nothing makes me happier. Maybe one day, I’ll become one of those pattern-structure weaver types and lust after some computer-driven crazy shaft loom… but not likely.

Actually for three days in March, I’ll be attending Jane Stafford’s weaving workshop, “Pushing the Boundaries of Plain Weave”. It’s hosted by the Greater Vancouver Weavers & Spinners Guild and about 14 or 15 students will be doing a round-robin style workshop where we’ll all weave on each other’s looms and take home a complete set of samples. I’m really looking forward to experimenting freely with my very beloved plain weave.

2009-02-23_handwovenscarf
Finished pieces make me happy.

Yet another plain weave scarf from both handspun warp and weft. It’s hand dyed blue face leicester handspun in the warp, 2-ply and about DK weight, plus very fine merino laceweight weft (the same yarn I used to knit the Lotus Blossom Shawl ages ago). Seeing as how there is about 10 cm of snow in tomorrow’s forecast, this brand new scarf might just come in handy.

2009-02-23_loom
Leclerc Nilus 4-shaft loom being dressed for the weaving studio class

Our weaving studio classes just started last Wednesday and we’re getting the first sampler warps on the looms. Plain and simple Quebecoise wool in bright, happy colours. I’m excited to see these samples start to take shape for the students.

This past month, I’ve found myself at the studio nearly full-time. And even though we don’t open the studio to the public on all days, I’m here bright and early every day… winding bobbins, skeining yarn, receiving orders of natural dyes from Earthues, dyeing yarn, weaving, spinning, knitting, doing my accounting and designing. Hours and hours are spent updating the website and entering inventory. Daily, I get calls to advertise in this medium or that. But even though I am constantly, productively doing things, I still feel like completion is always so far away. Bobbins are full and need to be plied. Those few inches could be woven off. That other loom needs to be warped. And I’ve got this pattern here that I need to finish writing out…

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  1. how exciting to see your malabrigo sock yarn scarf! it is so beautiful! and i know how you feel that things feel like they are never finished… i feel that way every day!

  2. how exciting to see your malabrigo sock yarn scarf! it is so beautiful! and i know how you feel that things feel like they are never finished… i feel that way every day!

  3. We’re getting snow?!? I’m glad to hear it. My knits get to see more action.

    I adore all the purples in that piece. Delicious.

  4. We’re getting snow?!? I’m glad to hear it. My knits get to see more action.

    I adore all the purples in that piece. Delicious.

  5. Hope you have fun with Jane’s plain weave course. She came up to Powell River before Christmas and our fibre arts club did the Lacey Places workshop. We all had a great time and did the round robin format. We all took home some lovely samples.I am a very new weaver and I found the whole experience very inspiring.

  6. Hope you have fun with Jane’s plain weave course. She came up to Powell River before Christmas and our fibre arts club did the Lacey Places workshop. We all had a great time and did the round robin format. We all took home some lovely samples.I am a very new weaver and I found the whole experience very inspiring.

  7. It is wonderful to be busy and fully engaged. You sound happy, and I am glad to hear it. The nice thing about multiple projects is that – at some point in the future – you will have FO after FO after FO, and you will marvel at your productivity.

  8. It is wonderful to be busy and fully engaged. You sound happy, and I am glad to hear it. The nice thing about multiple projects is that – at some point in the future – you will have FO after FO after FO, and you will marvel at your productivity.

  9. That’s just gorgeous. I’ve been a long time admirer of your yarns and your work in general. I wish I lived closer so I could participate in that workshop! It sounds amazing!!

  10. That’s just gorgeous. I’ve been a long time admirer of your yarns and your work in general. I wish I lived closer so I could participate in that workshop! It sounds amazing!!

  11. Sounds to me like you need an assistant! :o) It sounds awefully busy, but at least you can do what you love to do, right?

  12. Sounds to me like you need an assistant! :o) It sounds awefully busy, but at least you can do what you love to do, right?

  13. Wow, you’re keeping very very busy, but of course that is good. And even better, you’re doing what you love! Talk about inspiration – thank you for the updates. You seem happy and I know you have happy fans! :)

  14. Wow, you’re keeping very very busy, but of course that is good. And even better, you’re doing what you love! Talk about inspiration – thank you for the updates. You seem happy and I know you have happy fans! :)

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