We start again. Is there any better feeling than starting a project from scratch? I started yesterday on the Lindistfarne Poncho using my hand spun, hand combed, Tunis. The cabled cream colored four ply stranded yarn already looks fantastic cabled. I just hope I have enough yarn and/or fiber. Second, I’m cross stitching Pikachu and it’s evolved form for my youngest. It’s a bit intimidating starting such a large cross stitch project but it is stamped- making it easier.
There’s an ancient practice of weaving using a piece of equipment called a peg loom. This can purchased or created if you happen to have a wood worker you know. Fiber artists seem to have handy partners! I’m not that lucky so mine is purchased through The Woolery. I picked the 24 inch version instead of the longer 36 inch version. I wish I had gone for the longer option.
I have pictures below of how to go ahead and prepare the loom by inserting yarn into the hole of the dowels and tying the end together. The yarn is woven around the dowels. Once the yarn is built up on the dowels, the pegs are removed one by one and the yarn slipped down. In that manner, the weaving grows down and down the warp.
I love peg loom weaving for stash busting and using up the extra bits of hand spun and commercial yarn. It’s a fun technique to learn and continue.
What does it mean to be me? Today is the anniversary of my mother’s death. Am I a daughter first? A wife? A mother? A creator? A writer? A fiber artist? An employee? I have a million pieces that make who I am and trying to explain it is like having to weave in the ends of an elaborate project. I say this after 1 – failing at my weaving a scarf on my baby wolf 2 – succeeding at weaving a tapestry project.
This year, for a whole year, I’m not allowed new projects, tasks, volunteers or pretty much anything that involves me extending myself. That started in February and I’ve already broken my commitment by agreeing to go full time at work. I desperately want to hit the art store and by a canvas and a load of acrylic paints but that would be messy, expensive and breaking my no new hobbies rule. Instead, I started a tapestry using a loom I already have and yarn from my closet.
I’m still trying to finish this baby off. It’s a mountain scene and what I’ve had in my head for years. I sit here today, trying to figure out how to end this piece, already weaving on another project on my peg loom, thinking, what would Mom say. I think she’d be happy with it- with all of it. Don’t get me wrong. She’d sprinkle some judgement on in there, but over all, deep inside, she’d be happy. It’s time to use more yarn now. Happy Creating!!!
What does it mean to put yourself or in my case, knit yourself back together. I’ve said this many times, but this time it’s true. I’ve had to deal with quite a bit the last three plus years and even longer. My family has dealt with loss upon loss, cancer, cross country moves, Covid and even the murder of a loved one right as Covid began in 2020. Knitting or crafting in general is one thing in a sea of things that has carried me through the last few years. Way back in 2020, I grasped on to new hobbies hoping they would save me, one by one. I picked up spinning again, bought a table loom, bought fleeces, bought combs and cards to process those fleeces, and tried, tried, tried. I’d hit a road block, such as being unable to figure out how to comb long curly Coopsworth wool fleece, and give up. Then I’d try again, dyeing said fibers and finally, finally weaving them into a rug using a peg loom. Was it pretty? Not exactly, but I learned!
In 2021 a generous woman who I had sold my mother’s table loom to gave it back – and refused to take money for it. Then I found a Schact Wolf Loom for dirt cheap on Facebook leaving me with one rigid heddle loom, one tapestry loom, two table looms and one floor loom. I purchased a warping board off Facebook marketplace but I never received the screws that went along with it. I went to the hardware store and made do. I couldn’t figure out how to warp it and wasted tons of yarn in the many attempts I made. Two weeks ago, I took a class online and have wound my third warp since then.
I bought a merino fleece and couldn’t figure out how to clean it properly. In 2022, I took not one, but three classes on how to prep a fleece. In 2023, it finally clicked and I’m still working through a Tunis fleece I started processing in March. Wash, comb, spin, ply, repeat.
When I was little, my mother tried to teach me to crochet. I’ve never been the type to learn by listening. I have to figure things out on my own. She got frustrated and gave up, leaving me home with my grandmother for the weekend. When she returned, I had crocheted a set of slippers. Then she really got frustrated!!! I never really learned to crochet properly but I spent a month last year in New York attending the murder trial of my family member. Knitting needles were expressly forbidden and enforced so I learned to crochet again. I made close to fifty sunflowers and even wound up making a stuffed pokemon for each of my kids. Not too bad if I say so myself.
In February, after the second trial ended in conviction, I broke down. I fell apart. I went out on FMLA and couldn’t find the energy to knit, to spin, to think or hardly to breathe. I cared for myself, my kids and my life as best as I could. It was hard and painful. I attended the sentencing and said goodbye to my life back in New York, one final time. Every time I say it’s the last time. I said goodbye to the loved one I never got to bury and to the memories, good and bad. I walked away at the end, driving slowly and stopping frequently, hoping my mind would come back to me.
March and April passed. May and June. July is here and I’m in full craft mode. I’m trying to find the balance again, between family, work and the projects that call to me. I’m knitting a scarf, a pair of socks, spinning and prepping Tunis wool fiber for a potential sweater, and have a warp ready to hit the loom. You can indeed knit yourself together again. I have. I am still.
It’s day 14 of the Tour De Fleece. If you are interested in joining this group, see the link below. https://www.facebook.com/groups/447931545237090/
What is Tour De Fleece? It’s an annual event that takes place the time as the famous bicycling race, Tour De France. Spinners from all over the world take to their wheels and spindles
The Tour de Fleece was initially conceived in 2006 by a group of fiber enthusiasts who wanted to combine their love for spinning with the excitement of the renowned cycling event, the Tour de France. Inspired by the cyclists’ endurance and dedication, they decided to create a spinning challenge that would run parallel to the cycling race. Since then, the Tour de Fleece has gained immense popularity, with thousands of spinners participating each year.
The primary objective of the Tour de Fleece is to motivate spinners to challenge themselves, set personal goals, and spin every day during the duration of the Tour de France. Participants often take this opportunity to explore new spinning techniques, experiment with different fibers, and complete unfinished projects. The event fosters a sense of community and encourages spinners to share their progress, ideas, and inspiration with others using social media platforms and dedicated online forums.
My challenge this year has been to spin every day. It doesn’t matter if it’s five minutes or five hours. I’ve been working through a Tunis fleece for the last few months. I took a short break to spin my carded Jacob fleece and returned to combing the Tunis. I truly enjoy watching everyone’s colorful pictures online and seeing their gorgeous wheels.
Knitwerks 