Red and black houndstooth scarf

Houndstooth is so easy to weave but produces such an interesting result that it has become my go-to technique when I need something quick, like for a weaving demonstration. And that is how this scarf began, to demo at the Jay County Fiber Arts and Artisans Fest.

Pattern: Houndstooth scarf
Weave structure: plain weave
Loom: Ashford SampleIt
Warp: Cascade 220 Superwash worsted in red and in black
Weft: Cascade 220 Superwash worsted in red and in black
EPI/PPI: 7.5/7.5
Ends: 43 (I think)

Weaving with superwash yarn has some challenges, especially regarding tension. Superwash yarn is rather stretchy and springy, but if you keep tightening the warp, the houndstooth pattern will become flattened out. I make it a practice to apply just enough tension on the warp to allow the shuttle to slide through easily. When I take a break from weaving, I loosen the warp a bit so there is not constant tension on it.

Since I am starting a study group for rigid heddle weaving, I (roughly) timed how long this 5" wide, 6' long scarf took: about an hour to warp (and that included looking for this and that - I didn't hurry); 3-4 hours to weave (including some interruptions); about a half hour to finish. If you are looking for a weekend project, this is one option.

Toe-up anklets

Since there was enough yarn left over after completing the top-down anklets, I decided to knit another pair, toe-up this time, with the intention of using up all the yarn. Mission accomplished!

Pattern: Short-Row Toe and Heel Basic Socks, by Wendy D. Johnson
Yarn: Some kind of sock yarn I must have dyed at a dyeing workshop of some kind
Needle: US1
Modifications: 2x2 ribbing for the leg

I haven't worn these yet, as our whiplash weather doesn't stay cold for very long, but I hope the extra ribbing helps keep them on my feet better than the top-down ones. Otherwise, not much to report on this pair.

I can see clearly now...

The cataract surgeries are over - what a simple procedure! Other than dozing the rest of the day away, there is very little to recover from. All I have to do is remember to use the eye drops and DON'T RUB MY EYES (difficult as pollen season is starting). Since I opted for the upgrade, my astigmatism has been corrected, but I still need reading glasses for close work (like knitting, reading, and computer work). It's sort of like having permanent contact lenses without the hassle.

Knitting: Started a new pair of socks.

Spinning: Finished spinning the Polish merino.

Taxes are over, too - I efiled today. I have used TurboTax for many years, but the interface wasn't as good this time. I had to go through the whole thing twice to make sure everything was done right. No fun.

Weaving Class Tote, part 2

The bag on the cover of the Spring 2025 issue of Little Looms was the goal.

Not too shabby.

But getting there was rather painful. After struggling with the instructions, the handwoven material, my lack of sewing skills, etc., I decided to make a practice bag. This helped immensely. Then I basically tore apart what I had accomplished so far and started over with the sewing of the handwoven. My seam ripper and I really got to know each other during this phase.

This inkle band is more substantial than the one for the practice bag, but I think it too is a bit flimsy. Annie MacHale weaves guitar straps using Sinfonia mercerized cotton; in the future, I will do the same when I want something more firm.

While the foam stabilizer was easy to sew through, tension problems arose when the layers included not only the handwoven, the foam, and the cotton lining, but the inkle band as well. Some have suggested using a "walking foot" (whatever that is) to remedy this.

Pattern: Weaving Class Tote, by Michele Marshall from the Spring 2025 issue of Little Looms
Weave structure: plain weave
Loom 1: Ashford rigid heddle 24"
Warp: 8/2 cotton in colors as close as I already had without buying (too much) more
Weft: 8/2 cotton in white
EPI/PPI: 12.5/11
Ends: 250 doubled, so 500
Loom 2: Ashford inkle loom
Warp: 8/4 cotton rug warp in colors I already had without buying (too much) more
Weft: 8/4 cotton run warp in white
EPI/PPI: 39/9
Ends: 73

This weaving project is the most ambitious one I have tried so far, but I learned a lot. When I recover, I hope to sew more bags, from both handwoven and commercial fabric.

Weaving Class Tote, part 1

The more one weaves, the more one feels comfortable with the whole process. And the more one views videos on line, reads blog posts, and shares with fellow weavers, the more one incorporates new and better ways of doing things. This project is an example of that process.

8/2 cotton, doubled for warp and weft

While idly watching a YT video on weaving towels, I noticed the weaver did two things that I've added to my repertoire: attach the back warping stick to the heddle to keep them steady and use multiple "pegs" when warping.

Steady as she goes

Repurposed coat rack

After a few false starts with warping, I thought (rather smugly) I was well on my way. But then I discovered I was reading the warping chart incorrectly. Could I just forge ahead? No, the stripes on the bag would look all wrong. So I removed those errant warp threads and started over.

Then, while winding the warp onto the back beam, I found two broken warps. WTH?!? Fortunately, they both were at one edge, so I just knotted them together and hoped they would be hidden when the sides were joined.

I use different methods for tying onto the front beam. This one usually gives me the best tension all the way across the warp.

Once the warping was done, the weaving went fairly smoothly. I attached a measuring tape to keep track of my progress.

After I finished weaving the straps on my inkle loom, both the straps and the fabric went into the washing machine for a good dunking, then into the dryer. This "sets" the weave of the cotton yarn well.

The fabric and straps sat for quite a while after this, while I got up the gumption to actually sew the bag. What motivated me was an upcoming weaving guild program on making bags and purses with handwoven. See part 2.

Priorities

Lately I have had to spend (a lot of) time doing what my daughter refers to as "adulting" - paying bills, filing taxes, examining finances, etc. Plus there is the usual chores and errands and relationships. And my granddaughter made the tennis team and wants me to practice with her. And I had eye surgery - the cataract in my right eye has been replaced, and next week the left one will get the treatment. Such is (old) life.

Knitting: Those freakin' anklets are finally done. I prepared yarn (meaning I spent several hours wrestling with yarn barf) for the next pair.
Weaving: The houndstooth scarf is also finished.

As if I don't have enough to do, I have started baking sourdough. Feeding the starter is like having another pet. Even though I have baked plenty of bread in my life, this is a new adventure.

I think I have not shared a mug I purchased at Simply Socks the last time I was there. The same sentiment applies to coffee.

I'm trying to catch up on my FO posts, but they are piling up. In an effort to find more time, I have even been skipping some fiber events that I ordinarily would attend. There are only so many hours in the day/days in the week/energy in this body.

Practice bag

I'm not a sewist. I can barely stitch a straight seam. So my stuggles sewing the Weaving Class Tote led me to stitch up a practice bag using commercial fabric.

The pattern in Little Looms provided a link to a two-part tutorial from the Missouri Quilt Company. I watched this multiple times, and the techniques finally sank into my tiny brain.

I think I purchased this material at a moving sale that one of the weaving guild members staged. Bosal In-R-Form Plus double-sided fusible foam stabilizer provides the stiffness needed for this bag to stand up by itself. The bottom is boxed, which helps as well.

The lining is some muslin that I threw into the dye pot after dyeing yarn with dyers coreopsis.

I wove the handles on my inkle loom using 8/4 cotton. They seem really flimsy, plus no matter how much I iron them, they look wrinkled. Also, they are too long for this size bag.

While this is not a perfect bag by any means, I am fairly satisfied with the results. Understanding the pattern instructions and improving my sewing techniques were the goals, and that happened.

Other things I learned (and they apply to many activities) include taking things slow, one step at a time, and walking away when I need a break.