Monday, January 27, 2014

Wool Colonial Rag Rug

I've been making these rugs for quite a while...taught to me by my good friend Sarah Noggle.  We strip the wool and add the Shaker Chevron for embellishment.  The warp is cotton rug warp and it's doubled. They are machine washable and can be dried, but I usually hang them to dry. They last really well. I make these on my really heavy duty loom called a Cranbrook.  We weighted the beater to make sure it gets beat tightly and I don't have to bang the  @#%^&*! out of it.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Entrelac Tam

I became obsessed with learning to knit Entrelac just recently.  It's been a goal for quite a while, so when Kathryn Alexander put out a video I knew this was the time.  She's a really good teacher.  She has so much to teach and talks so fast...you pause the video.  But her directions are clear and here are the results.
This is the first sample

Sampler using the new techniques of making a box and points

The finished Tam!!  Using all handspun yarn some are hand dyed with natural dyes.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Handpainted Wool Yarns!

Here are a few of the handpainted wool skeins ready for knitting or crochet!





Thursday, January 9, 2014

Shawl/Scarf

This past last year I put some kits together, some sold and I had a couple to play with.  I thought I'd try "boneyard" by Stephen West in the 3 hand dyed and handpainted silk skeins I'd chosen to see how it looked and worked.  I was surprised that I was actually knitting from the top town instead of the point up!  I like what it looks like!  These are dk weight single silk and a fingering weight in the lighter teal/blue.  I dyed the yarn and sell a selection of silks at festivals and through my website.