Weaving Frenzy

These last couple of weeks I have been doing a lot of weaving of all sorts. Last week I wove a large sampler for a saddle blanket that I might do for someone. I've never done this sort of weaving before so had to figure out what it even was. Of course I started with the harder way to weave a more complex boundweave but worked my way back to a straight twill tie up and a large sett and got what I was looking for by playing with color and weave patterns. It ended up to be fun and I hope I get to do the finished project. Wow, does it ever use up a lot of yarn! I used over a pound of handspun odds and ends just for the sample. We estimated the finished blanket would need around 6 pounds of yarn but it turns out to be nearly an inch thick so that is where all the yarn goes.

On Friday I went to get some yarn at Thirteen Mile Lamb and Wool Co.
which is right near here outside of Belgrade. Becky Weed has a beautiful farm near the mountains where she raises certified organic sheep which she sells both for meat and also has a small mill where she processes fiber and spins yarn. The farm is also certified predator friendly so no native animals are killed to protect the sheep. They use guard animals and other means to protect them so no wolves, coyotes, etc are ever injured or killed there. Her fibers and yarns are wonderful and I got some yarn to make a throw. I am pretty sure that this is the only organic sheep farm in the country that also uses natural dyes on their wool. These are the colors that I chose and the brick color is madder.




Here is the warp all ready for the loom. The pattern is log cabin in narrow and larger blocks and there are 2 stripes along each selvedge edge and three at the other 2 ends. It is 6 epi and I will full it a little when it is woven.




Woolen weaving is not much to look at on the loom and really looks thin and sleazy until it is finished and then the fabric closes up and gets soft and wonderful. But I wanted to show the pattern so you can see what I am doing and also how lightly the beat has to be for this type of weaving. If I made it look good on the loom, it would be more of a rug than a nice drapey blanket when it was finished. It changes a lot in finishing and I can't wait to see how it turns out.





Also I am working on some bands for another bag and this is the first one of three. I have been weaving on the blanket by day and the inkle loom at night so I can have a change of scenery in the evening.



We got our first snowfall yesterday but it is all melted off today. It was so beautiful and the mountains are still gorgeous.