Weaving and Fiberfest Update

Wow!  Thank you for all the great responses to the last post.  I'm still working my way through them all.  So much good info.  There's no way I can respond to even most of them, so please accept my thanks here.  I'll try to get back to a few of you.

Saturday's PVC loom class at the local fiber festival was, well, interesting.  Of course, most of the class was spent just warping it with only enough time to get to about an inch or so of actual weaving.  We were all pretty worn out by the end of the day from the heat, as well.  I ended up spending another $25 on top of the VERY small class and supply fees and it would apparently make the weaving go much more quickly if I'm willing to spend another $50 on a magic heddle.  Still, a pretty cheap way of getting into weaving.  The instructer designed and constructed the looms.  She has health issues that only allow her to sit for any length of time in a half-reclined position and this loom, either hung from a ceiling or in her lap with the top edge of the loom leaning on something allows her to still be able to weave.  She says it's a mix between a Norwegian tapestry loom and a Navajo loom, not really either one, though, and warped with the back loop method.    I still don't exactly know what all that means but at least it will be easy to store away when my interest wanes.  What I have done so far is pretty wonky but still, it'll be something to play around and practice on.  You can't very well learn all that much about weaving in a one day class. 

It's been about 15 years since I took another weaving class on a table loom at Weaving Works in Seattle.  I wasn't all that interested in it then and I can't say that I'm all that enthused about it still.  The real reason for taking the class this time around was to use up some of my stash of naturally dyed worsted weight yarns and also just to participate in and support our still relatively tiny fiber fest itself. 

The 4-day Navajo weaving class was excellient and taught by members of  Dine be’ iina from Arizona out of my budget and my time constraints.  There was also a natural dye class taught.  The pictures of the yarn above were from that class.  They used madder root, osage orange, logwood, and indigo.   

Comments

[Dava]

I love those colors!

[Jen]

Hi. I have been reading your blog for some time now and I have posted comments a few times. I have 3 kids of my own under the age of 7 - I don't homeschool because I work full-time, but I would if we could affors to not have me work.

I love the pvc loom- did you make it or buy it? I bought myself a used LeClerc 4-harness loom that just sits in the craftroom- I prefer my inkle and rigid heddle loom. I am by no means an expert, but I like to pick it up every now and then.

I went to Rhinebeck 2 years ago- I drove and it was a long trip from western Penssylvania, but the event is a fabulous fiber feast! I bought too much to mention- a Golding spindle, a sheepskin for my chair, a lucet, merino roving, etc, etc. GO! I also took a plying class and learned that I REALLY wanted a spinning wheel and bought myself a Kromski Minstrel after spinning on handspindles for years. I am very good with a spindle- still learning on the wheel, but I make decent yarn.

I am also a natural dyer- I enjoy seeing your experiments since I keep doing my own. I have a box FULL of natural dyed yarn that I don't quite know what to do with. Have you found that the colors are fast when you wash them? I have been meaning to make them into socks, but I worry the colors will wash out. I know you have made several, so I would be curious to know how the colors hold up.

Good luck with the yarn endeavor- starting a small busines is alot of work. I started a small handmade soap business last year. 100% natural, using all plant colorants that I grow myself, etc. I don't make alot of money, but I get to experiment doing what I enjoy and get a few dollars back. Also, whatever I DON'T sell makes GREAT Christmas presents and that saves me alot! :> Sock yarn could be a more lucrative deal however!

Good luck, thanks for sharing your personal life with us in cyberland, and I will keep reading!