double weave scarf

Finally weaving again, the first 300 picks are done. Had a setback earlier today when my LeClerc bobbin winder gave up the ghost when I was winding the 2nd pirn.
I have enough to start the weaving using my endfeed shuttles. But without the winder I will not be able to wind the pirns, so will have to go back to my boat shuttles.
I will try and find someone who knows about sewing machines, may be they might be able to help solve the problem as I love using my endfeed shuttles. I only have 1 cone of each colour that I'm using in the weft and I have to use 3 strands (as that is what I did in the warp), so, a lot of winding before I can weave.

Happy so far with the result. You can start to see the diagonal pattern emerging.

Woven some more today and now you can see the diagonal pattern clearly. To the right the window frames are the same to the left the windows are the same, when you look diagonally. There are 8 different windows, so I'm halfway before I start repeating the pattern again.
Oh, and just tried my electric bobbin winder, before ringing up about it, and guess what, it was running again! I don't understand it at all, as I tried several times yesterday and it just seemed dead. But now I'm  a very happy bunny again. :-)

more on sampling

Sample cut today and washed. It looked and felt lovely before washing but after wet treatment I do not like it. I'm using a stretchplus yarn as weft (merino wool + 5% lycra). It makes the cloth feel much harder than before wet treatment. I will now change this and use the same yarn as in the warp. The stretchplus yarn will have to wait for another project. Hurray for sampling

sampling first

I have been weaving a sample, so tiny, you can hardly see ;-)
But it did show me that the sett was wrong.
So, thinking I had a 32cm wide warp I now have a 40cm wide one. Much better feel, so, glad that I did the sampling. This next sample will be cut too as I want to see what happens when I wash it. The weft yarn is a fine stretchplus yarn. Hoping it will do something when it's washed.

For the eagle eyed: it's from Marian's book page 159/160

It's for our Guild Challenge. My challenge is to weave with wool, complementary colours and double weave.

These are the 4 colours used in the warp, in this order and the 2 weft yarns.
First time I'm weaving with such thin yarns, but I have trebled the warp yarns (2/64). The weft yarn (2/48) is a little different so doubling that. The balance is just right now I think.

lavender in flower

The lavender in my front garden is at it's best at the moment:

 

You can see all the different colours lavender. I have to see how the plants will be after Summer, as some plants are becoming a bit wooden. Might have to replace those. For the moment I have a sea of colour and the smell is lovely!

waterfun

Pleasant day with the grandchildren. They had fun in the water and the dog wanted to join in too :-)

 

museum visit

Only one more week and this exhibition (link in Dutch, but lots of photos to see) will be finished in Breda Museum.
So glad I went to see it all today, as I visited the artists studio in Brussels earlier this year. A really exceptional exhibition. Well worth viewing work by Isabelle de Borchgrave, so if you ever see an exhibition of her work near you, do go and see it.

My warp is on the loom and I've started weaving a very small sample. I think I may have the sett wrong. I will try some different weft yarn before cutting and rethreading the reed.

planning ahead

The idea has come about to organise a workshop with Marian in the Dordogne.
This year will not happen but a date is set for May 2015

Location will be here
If you feel like joining in, drop a comment. A long wait until May but looking forward to our time there already.
I'll be back in time to go to the Textile Festival Leiden and ETN conference.

Update: one more place left open! May be two if reservation is not taken up. Problem is, we have to wait almost a year for this wonderful group coming together for the workshop.

end of West Weeft

Today was the last day. Not so many people visiting but initially we were going to have Saturday as our last day so that's how it was noted in the leaflet. On the internet page it had been changed, that we were open after all.
But still 15 people turned up today, and in total 144 over 6 days. So we were very pleased with so many visitors. Really enjoyed it all. Thanks for coming to look at our work!
Lenie and Erma's husband each made something to eat and that is how we finished our weaving week, eating together in the garden. We have really enjoyed this joined venture together.
My ondulé reed will stay for a little longer so that Annechien can finish the scarf warp she put on for demonstration.
One of my scarves has gone home with Lenie.
Now time to get on with the warp on my loom.