The weather has cheered up, warm and sunny, mid 80s f, lovely gardening weather. Which is what I planned to do since most of the knitters were seizing the day likewise instead of knitting at the group.
Here's how things were on the deck while I drank tea and considered my planting. Including a chipmunk who had planned on coming over to dig, then saw me and froze to the wall, until finally he gave up and left.
Then I thought I'd do a bit of weaving while I waited for more shade on the deck for me to work in .
Then, hellfire, disaster struck my new little loom. The back member, that part the warp is rolled on, suddenly cracked, rendering it inoperable. Evidently the tension was too great. My own was a bit high at that point, too.
So, unable to continue, I unwound the work and here it is
I need to do some finishing work on it and see if it's useful for the knitting ministry or not. It's pretty nice but now it's abbreviated, may be more of an accessory than a useful item. So I'll stitch the end, trim the fringe, and soak then dry it. Then I'll decide.
I first thought of returning the loom for a refund, even went through the process, all the way to the qr code, but had second thoughts. I have weeks before I need act on it and meanwhile if I get wood glue I can probably repair that crack.
Mainly I don't want to part with the bar heddle that attracted me to start with, and you have to return all the parts for a refund. I could get an entire replacement but I think I might have the same issue again.
So, there's wood glue on my shopping list. And if that doesn't work I have other ideas.
Meanwhile I can work at the band loom, never any lack of things to do. Also I need to finish those socks, then the second glove, then I have a parcel for the Sock 'n glove 'n whistle Ministry.
Finally I guess I'll get to gardening. Maybe tomorrow, and plant out the cotton as well as the flower seeds. I'll see if any seeds need to be soaked overnight, too
Then there was Textiles and Tea. Today's presenter was Beth Ross Johnson, a weaver and stitcher in ikat, that's painted threads, also the white running stitch called sashiko. And, get this, weaving based on sashiko stitched designs. Take a look
It's a great combo of stitching and weaving, very appealing.
She's based in Black Mountain and was flooded out by Helene, out of her studio for months, amazed to find World Central kitchen operating in her own neighborhood. She's been through a bit.
So that's where we are just now. For better or worse.
