Hi all, I thought I'd give you an update on what I've been up to. Firstly I warped the 4 shaft table loom up .... wrongly! And it took me a few days to sort everything out so it weaves smoothly. And that's when I accidently discovered why I wasn't getting a big enough shed to push the shuttle through. Apparently I should have put the apron over the front bar. While I was rearranging the threads that I had sleyed the reed with I put the apron over the front bar and as I then sleyed the reed I tied smaller bunches of threads to the apron. When I had finished I discovered that now the thread was tied to the apron, I couldn't put the apron under the bar. So I thought, what harm could it do? And the answer? No harm at all :) As it turns out having the front threads high over the bar actually creates a larger shed....woohoo :) ... one happy weaver!
As I think I've mentioned before, I am totally self taught and this loom didn't come with any instructions whatsoever. I have almost finished weaving my piece on it. However, it hasn't all be plain sailing. I started off making a red cushion cover but ran out of thread 20 inches into the project, so now I have a red and white cushion cover with some red fabric to make something else with, or to incorporate into the cushion covers I'm making. I refuse to waste any fabric that I've laboured over for days....weeks.... ;-)
While I have been weaving on the table loom during the day, I drew up a pattern to weave on my Inkle loom. It was a proper 'inkle' pattern (I usually do card weaving!) and it only took me a couple of days to warp and weave it. I'm very pleased with the result and will be incorporating the band on my cushion covers. I can 100%, categorically say, that there will be no other cushion covers like mine in the whole world because I have designed and woven them myself from start to finish (I didn't spin the wool though...not this time anyway!). So, watch this space for photos ... coming soon!
Also, I had an unusual experience while shopping the other day. I went into the local haberdashery and bought 1.5 metres of black leather thonging to tie the connecting rod to the foot peddle on my loom. Yes, I know I didn't need that much but I wanted to make sure I had some replacement if it broke. Opposite the sewing shop a Sue Ryder charity shop had opened up so I went in for a mooch around (you never know what treasures they have lurking in the corners!) and found a leather belt that was designed with the leather cut into long thin strips, like thonging. I can get 20 one metre thongs out of it...woohoo! All for £1.25...bargain! I've looked online for leather but it's so expensive, even for offcuts.
It wasn't much of an update but I've been busy with lots of things just lately.
Thanks for reading....byeeeeee! :)
