A fun few weeks weaving ... scarves and a ruana

I wound a 4.5 metre warp of 8 ply white wool, and then dyed it randomly, using several autumny colours, in the microwave. I added several black and orange bands as well, to get a bit more width. When on the loom, I used a black 2 ply for the weft. I am quite pleased with the result. I made the length into a ruana. I love ruanas. As warm as a jacket,  but easier to take on and off. you can drape them any which way.

The colours don't look quite so vibrant in this light

This is a favourite. The warp is a blend of 70% alpaca, 27% cotton and 3% copper. Yes copper. But it is beautifully soft and silky. The weft is a novelty yarn, mostly cotton but with some other fibres which add the colour. I wove it using a bead leno technique, which leaves it open and lacy. It drapes beautifully.

more scarves

I have played around the past few weeks and woven several more scarves.

A check scarf, slightly felted to give it a bit more body

We did a weaving workshop recently and I wove two twill woollen scarves.

This one used the same warp as the one above, but the twill has a zig-zag effect

Green and white cotton

And a cheerful tea cosy (handspun and crocheted) to keep the tea pot warm in chilly Canberra.

A mistake that pleased Issie

 I was weaving a jacket, but For some idiotic reason I made the warp too short, so it didn't fit me. Issie saw it and loved it when she was here, so it is now hers. The warp and half the weft is handspun merino, and the rest of the weft and the crochet border is commercial loopy mohair.

Footwarmers are still in demand this winter

Bill wanted some new footwarmers, and I was finishing them off while I was in Canberra recently. So I got an order for some from Pete and Kris. Finished the three pair in less than a week.
 Bill has been living in his since the weather has started to cool off. And Kris's are great for chilly Canberra.

A bit more basketry

This basket has a base of pine needles, walls of bullrush stalks, and the top is Bangalow palm stalks.

14 year old enthusiastic weavers

When my Granddaughter Isabelle and her friend Bec were visiting during the recent school holidays they were keen to try some weaving. They both took to it like ducks to water, and were very pleased with their brightly coloured scarves. Ideal for Canberra weather.

I had a ball left over of the multi coloured Murano from Bendigo Woollen Mills which they used, so I also whipped one up as well.

Handwoven silk wall hanging

I wove this wall hanging using silk I dyed with tea, for the light coloured background. The fine silk ( which I bought in Vietnam) is inserted between each background row to create the pattern. As you can imagine, it took a while to weave! The hanging is 1 metre high, and 60 cm wide.

Hooked on silk early in 2013

February 21, 2013.

After a holiday in Cambodia and Vietnam over Christmas 2012, I came back with several hundred grams of beautiful fine silk yarn, and have had a lovely time playing with it, even though it has done its best at times to tie itself and me in knots. (I also brought back quite a few gorgeous silk scarves, clothes and other goodies, but we wont go into that.)

The first silk scarf I wove used many of the autumn tone silk yarns I bought.I had finished it in time for the local Lake Macquarie Show, and it won first prize in its section.

The second scarf, in two slightly different blue tones was a bit more complex, but I am very pleased with the result.

Since I had decided to put some things in the local show, I also crocheted a necklace from bright pink silk I had spun and dyed - it was left over from the shawl I made for Sue. It won first prize in the section for crocheted handspun.

I had also done a wall hanging using various wools, grasses, ropes, twines, sticks etc. It also won first prize in its section.

I had handwoven a set of six place mats, which came second (I had already won first prize in that category). They are linen and cotton, in fawns with red and white slub elements.

The green vest I made last year ( and looks terrible in the photo but works well in real life) also won a first prize. So all in all I was pleased with myself, having entered six items in four categories, and won first prize in each of those categories and and a second and third prize as well.

May 2012: 

Having taken it easy for while this year so far - after my open heart surgery in January - I am now getting right back into the swing of things. As usual I have given away a number of things I made before I remembered to photograph them. But I have a few pics... 

I dyed some silk, handspun it, and then crocheted it into this shawl. I am rather pleased with it.
It went to Sue for her birthday.

I saw some interesting funky footwarmers someone had made,so I had to have a go at doing some myself.
These ones turned out a bit big, so I made another pair - below. It only takes one evening to make a pair!
Very comfortable to wear around the house and keep my feet snug and warm.
I made the soles easily detachable, so if they wear out, I can just crochet another sole and pop it on.

And when my granddaughter saw these she wanted a pair of her own....

I handwove this "shrug" with bits and pieces I had been given.
The photo does not do it justice

We went for a holiday up to Yamba, where there were lots of pandanus trees growing.
I picked some leaves and brought them back to play with. This is one of the two table runners I wove on my loom with them. The darker stripes are Gymea Lily leaves. I mean anyone can make baskets with pandanus, but I had to experiment with some different techniques...

I actually knitted myself a pair of socks. Got very bored working with fine needles and wool.
The trouble with knitting socks is that when you have finally finished one, you have to sit and do another exactly the same!  I prefer variety in my craft work.

I was given an alpaca fleece - some was really good, but other parts were a bit scrappy. Rather than throw the scrappy bits away, I spun them and then made a stick-woven floor rug. Some of the panels are wool, and the rest alpaca.
The rug measures about 120 cm X 65.

Mike wanted a beanie to wear under his bike helmet when he goes riding in the Canberra winters.
I made it reversible as well.

A cardigan and beanie I knitted for one of the grandsons

Thomas liked my grey footwarmers I was wearing when he was visiting one time, and asked for a  pair of his own. You never know what appeals to an 18 year old!


I haven't given up basket weaving either. I made a couple of baskets recently, but typically forgot to photograph them before they went to their new home. I did photograph this one though.

2011
I thought I had a rather lean year in 2011. My hands played up for a while, so I didn't make much. But they are working again now.

spiral knitted bedsocks - done on 2 needles. Comfy to wear

Hairpin lace crochet headband. Handspun wool/silk. Fun to make

Woven wool vest - looks better on than the photo implies

Scarf - handwoven bead leno technique from handspun silk/merino blend

Silk crocheted necklace, with bobbles

necklace with flowers, crocheted in silk