Purling Oaks

Weaving experiments of a novice

I spent a few hours at the loom yesterday and finished weaving the rest of the 8/4 cotton rug warp.  The weft is also 8/4 cotton rug warp but tan rather than dark green.  I think it looks like it might be a nice table runner. 

I used a 12-dent reed for the table runner and a 10-dent reed for the little sample.  Both have the same number of threads for the width but the 12-dent project, at 14 inches wide, is about 2 inches narrower than the little sample comparing before-washing widths.  Before washing, the 8/4 cotton rug warp is very stiff and rough.  However, after washing it is transformed.  I washed the sample in warm water with a batch of towels and dried it.  It is now 14 inches wide, shrinking 2.25 inches "width of the loom-wise" and 1.5 inches of length (including fringe) in the washing process.  It is very soft and drapey now.  The weave is still open but closer than before washing.  The knotted fringe lost the individual string structure and now is thready--a nice soft look.  I'll wash the 12-dent runner tomorrow.  This loom will probably keep me entertained for quite a while.  Next up on the loom....warping for a kitchen towel.

I joined Curves today.  I'm hoping for more success in exercising than I had just trying it on my own at home.  I belonged to Curves about five or six years ago and liked it but I don't remember why I stopped going.  I probably just wimped out back then.  I can't wimp out now.  I'm going to be 50 years old in November and I want to be fit and fifty, not fifty and a frump.   The use of the word "frump" is, of course, quite subjective and, potentially, inflammatory.  However, that is what I feel like and I don't like it.   

Garden views

Here is the almost finished mini sample of my first weaving on the rigid heddle loom.  I used 8/4 cotton warp and a 10-dent reed.  I haven't washed it yet.  I'm a bit afraid to because you aren't supposed to be gentle with a sturdy weave when you wash them.  I'm used to washing wool!  I'll get over it because I *need* to know how it will look and feel after washing.   I'll throw it in with the next load of jeans.  Yowza.

I almost had jury duty tomorrow.  However, the parties settled out of court, so I'll be teleworking tomorrow.  Hurray!  I'm home! 

I wandered around with the camera this evening.  The light wasn't the best for photos but there are things growing here!  The miniature eggplant should be ready in a few days.  Mini eggplant Parmesan, anyone?  Stacey's hollyhock seeds are growing!  I'll pick filet green beans tomorrow...hopefully when the mosquitoes are otherwise occupied.  They were quite the pests this evening.

Hollyhock

Sprouting hollyhock babies from Stacey

Mini eggplants...I think they are mature at four inches.  They have a little bit of growing yet.

Chamomile....for calm

Nasturtium.....a spicy flower

Have a happy Thursday!

First weaving

Take two.  Typepad ate my first post but at least they were nice enough to leave me a comment form to complain on.  But, between then and now a weird thing happened that I'll share.

It started to rain this morning and I went out on the front porch to see if any of the cats wanted to come in.  Fuzzle and Blue were out there but not especially interested in coming in the house.  Both were on the porch waiting for the rain to stop before having more cat adventures, I presume.  Then, lightning struck.  I didn't see the bolt (Thank God!) but I had to cover my ears.  It must have struck just a few hundred yards away.  The cats both leaped and scrambled to get under the porch.  I was just stunned from the event.  I still feel stunned more than an hour and a half later.  I'm not physically damaged or anything....the lightning certainly didn't physically touch me.  Maybe the sound waves did?  Or a rush of adrenalin?  Fuzzle finally came out from under the porch a half hour later.  Blue didn't come out until DH came home an hour later.  Fuzzle dropped a few handfuls of fur.  I think I won't brush my hair for a while.....

Speaking of hair, somebody wants to see what I look like with my new haircut.  DH took these photos this morning (pre-rainstorm). 

No major change outside of the loss of several inches of length.  It was getting too long and definitely too long for a humid summer.  It wouldn't hold a style for more than an hour at the old length.  I'm still challenged by humid days but I don't feel quite so much like a bedraggled woman when it is 85% humidity.

I warped my rigid heddle loom yesterday for the first time with 8/4 cotton rug warp.  I used a 10-dent reed.  It took me about 3 hours using the direct warp method.  It should take less time for the next warp since I understand the method a bit now.

I even wove.  This is not the result I expected but it is interesting just the same.   I am changing the heddle to a 12-dent  to see what kind of fabric that will produce with this fiber.   Results sometime  this week, I hope. 

The general contractor is meeting with us this afternoon and tomorrow is a combination of fun family stuff in the morning and a funeral in the late afternoon/early evening.   My cousins' mother passed away on Sunday.  I wasn't very close to her but I am to my cousins.