nametags

Here they are! each and every person at the Minnesota Federation of Weavers Guilds and Fiber Artists annual retreat had a personalized name tag, suitable for use as a bookmark following federation!

Federation was great, but this week, for the first time in a year, I do NOT have to make any bookmarks!

too busy

Why yes, I would rather be weaving than blogging. With the approach of the 2010 Minnesota Federation retreat, I am a bit behind in all the things I am doing: weaving all 54 nametags, preparing to teach lettering on the inkle loom, weaving two potholders on the inkle loom for the exchange... but with a minor warp in the space time continuum (should be easy for a weaver) I feel confident, that I will NOT still be weaving at 2am the morning I leave. And no, I am not the least bit delusional.

Here's a peek

these are the green nametags. our theme is color, so all the nametags are different colors.

here is the orange warp, over half done. getting there...

and here are my nine nomi looms, ready to attach a book and sell! Whoot!

Not bad for a couple of months. I will try to take a photo of all of the nametags together. they should look very impressive!

Finished!

weaving the second panel of the first cotton baby blanket

three finished baby blankets

close-up of the weaving

I am finished with the baby blanket marathon. Still waiting for the birth, but I haven't checked since last nights storm...

Final tally is seven baby blankets. four made with acrylic yarn, easy care, lightweight, and inexpensive, three made with cotton yarn I had on hand, and no, I did not use it all. Four of the blankets were given an inkle band binding on two edges, custom made for the project.

Back to the busy season...

the busy season

My busy season has hit with full force. that said... I have been weaving. not on the little, easily warped inkle looms. No, I have been weaving on the baby wolf, and more precisely, I have been warping the baby wolf.

I am on my third warp in less than a week. I am on a deadline, imposed by the impending labor of a good friend.

I should document the lightening treadle action and my nearly faultless threading. But that would take time away from the actual weaving...

I will try to remember to take photos of the finished projects, 3 off the loom, and one woven, one still just warp. but that will have to wait for the day after tomorrow... a classic busy season day.

mail!

I just got a package in the mail from Northwest Looms. They have spectacular shuttles, intended for netting, repurposed to my inkle weaving, that fit beautifully in the hand, hold scads of yarn, and are mine, all mine. OK, only six of them are mine, but now I can weave on MOST of my inkle looms using these shuttles at the same time. Why not all? you ask. Well, because I have more inkle looms than shuttles. but let's keep that my little secret.

What? there are more than six shuttles you say? Two are for a friend who was there when I was ordering.

Too busy weaving...

Gosh, where does the time go? I've been too busy weaving to blog about it. That is about the best reason I can think of to neglect the blog.

That said I have LOTS to talk about. I started a new band with a difficult pattern yarn. and by difficult I mean $&%*#&@%!! difficult. It it shiny, and pretty, but had slubs. wicked nasty slubs that need to be hand separated each and every shed. Yuck. And I am not just making one band. I need three bands of the wicked nasty slubby pattern yarn to get enough yardage(yes, I am officially insane, yardage on the inkle loom) for my project.

the only-just-started band.

the nearly finished first band.

can't wait to show the finished project.

stealth project revealed

Maryann got her present, so now for the big reveal:

I made two different straps, one a narrow inkle band that matches the new band for the orifice hook, and the other a roped band that is a bit longer. I wasn't sure what length she needed for her favorite wheel.

here is the bag with the oil bottle snug inside, cute huh?

here is the random warp, better looking without the fringe in the way.

Still working on name tags for federation 2010. That will be in progress until October, I'm sure!

inkle weaving for spinners

I have a stealth project that is a birthday present for a friend, so I can't post the pix until the weekend, but I warped the Nome loom with 100 ends of 10/2 perle cotton, and wove a sweet present for a spinner. I used red, orange and yellow and DID NOT draft before warping. The finished band has a quirky asymetric feel that is a delight. It turned out beautifully, and I can't wait to do a second warp.

inkle genius

OK, I'm not really an inkle genius, but I did something with an inkle band that I have NEVER DONE BEFORE. I rewove it. off the loom. Stunning, I know.
I had woven a name bookmark, cut the warp off the loom and days later noticed a GLARING spelling error. I had to reverse two letters, or rewarp just for two letters.
It was not easy.
It was not fun.
But it was very. very. satisfying.

I thought that this was a photo of 11 looms, I was wrong, there are actually 12 looms dangling about the ceiling.

3 sample looms, an 8 harness dundas loom, 2 harrisville lap looms, 3 schacht inkle looms, 1 handmade cherry loom, 1 beka inkle loom, and there is a loom in the white paper bag. stunning. You should see the rest of the room.

I finished the first warp of the name bookmarks for federation. On to the teachers warp!

handy

uses for an inkle loom #27

in a pinch, it can be a warping board

Spinning Retreat

Wheels from the left, Schacht matchless, Louet S90, Ashford traveller, Babe's Fiber Starter, Louet S-45.

not pictured, Saxony wheel on the (unheated) front porch.

spinning retreat,
Spent the weekend at a spinning retreat. Well, a spinning, weaving, knitting, carding retreat. Loads of fun, all I can show you is the wheels. Next time I will wield the camera better.

Can't wait for the next retreat.

Thanks Maryann!

Got the Gold!

finished tree sweater, cunningly modeled by Jan

finished and installed tree sweater

picture of the installation, Feb 28, 2010 6:05pm

I'm done I'm done I'm done!

one sweater, knit, and seams sewn. ahem. in place.

sat in the snow and everything.

Ah the olympics!

the Nomi Inkle Loom

my new mini inkle loom, soon to be in production. I LOVE it. super portable, and still able to weave 36 inches in length. And I thought the Schacht Loom was portable. I have a dozen on order. Can't wait for my first teaching class!

Team Inkle

finished taxes, now on to the knitting! I still have a week. Go Team Inkle!

A stitch in time...

Too many stitches, too little time. I have several pressing projects, that threaten to bump me out of contention for Olympic Gold, not the least of which is taxes. Franklin should do a cartoon about that. Tax extensions due to Olympic participation. What tax man wouldn't understand that?
Any hoo, must continue knitting. attempting epic Shaun White victory lap like performance...instead of face plant off the double 960.

Or something like that.

step it up

team binsfeld is not all on the same page. apparently SOME of team binsfeld expects to be fed, taught, cleaned up after and entertained. Not cool. mom has stitches to make. See you next month.

happy valentines day! The snow this year is amazing. we may still have snow piles in May! One more reason to stay inside and knit, weave, read a book, eat chocolate....

And they're off!

time to begin. despite my best effort, I could not convince my 11yo to join me in the olympics. maybe next time. I'm sure i will be way cooler when she is 15.

knitting olympics, here I come!

funny that a weaving blog should start with a knitting post, but that's just the way it goes. I will knit a sweater, or ATTEMPT to knit a sweater during the knitting olympics. I don't know if I am crazy or inspired. Maybe a little bit of both.