Jananas

I’ve been playing around with weaving on my new rigid heddle loom over the last few weeks. Mid-last week I warped for my first scarf made out of handspun yarn! I had spun up 8 oz. of Spunky Eclectic’s fiber clubs (4 oz. each of David’s Gift and Mordor) and plied them together. It was funny, I disliked both colourways on their own but really like them together. I love how you have to learn to trust fiber in that things that look bad at first can look amazing further along in the process. For the weft I used a mix of the SE two ply and some two ply I spun up quickly from some Moonrover batts I had in my stash. It worked so perfectly!

I like weaving on my little rigid heddle! Its extra awesome because it means another way to use my hand spun and I can use sock yarn without having to knit socks!! I’m not sure where this scarf will end up, but my first two are already in the mail on their way to their new homes so there’s a good possibility that this one will get gifted as well.

One of the things that Jason and I are interested in is the history of body modification whether it be piercings or jewelry or tattoos or scarification. We’re not active collectors, but when an opportunity presents itself we’ve been known to take advantage of the opportunity. A couple of weeks ago my friend Maurie told me about the Guild Shop here in Toronto, first as a potential place for some registry items and later to let me know about a friends & family sale. I, of course, looked through the website and immediately fell in love with a print by Germaine Aranktauyok titled Tunilik (which I believe means the tattooed woman). We picked it up this week and it is amazing!

Germaine’s cousin works/volunteers at the Guild Shop, so I was able to talk with her a little bit about the tattoos. Apparently, the tattoos in the print are based on those of Germaine’s grandmother. Tattooing started at the hands, went up the arms and onto the breast. Faces were tattooed last. The main portion of the design identified the tribe/clan, although some elements are unique to the individual. She also described the traditional process, which involved very sharp leg bones from caribou, sinew, soot, and sewing.

I think its lovely. I’m excited that by purchasing this print and hanging it out in our house, we’ll be able to share this piece of (not very well known) Canadian culture and history with friends and family and future generations.

I spun up some lovely superwash yarn (originally a plying partner set from play at life fibers on etsy). I got 280 yards of a worsted two ply from about 7oz of fiber in lovely, bright colours.

My friend Miss Ellen (from my local stitch ‘n bitch) bought it off me. She had plans to make an adorable baby sweater from the Last Minute Knitted Gifts book, but we were worried that she wouldn’t have quite enough yardage as it was close. Well surprise, surprise when she was able to eke out the sweater and a hat and have a little leftover! I stole the photo from her Ravelry page & project.

This is sweet little set is just adorable! I think that Ellen did a fantastic job knitting it.

Its really amazing to get to see things go from fiber to hand spun yarn to finished knitted item. I’m grateful that I get to be a part of the process!

I’ve been productive getting wedding related crafting done lately. Sometimes it makes me feel like I’m not getting other things done in me life. This morning I took (photo) stock of what I’ve done this week and, well, I’m just as productive as normal in the rest of my life as well.

In that last week I finished up a top secret birthday project (photos to be revealed once the package has been received & opened). I cast on and finished the first of a set of seat covers for our dining room set. I’ve cast on for the second one and will work away on it (and the rest of them) over the next few weeks. These are super fast given the bulky yarn and giant needles (seriously – US size 15 aka 10mm), which is rewarding.

I’ve also spun a bunch of yarn. I spun and plied 8oz of stuff I dyed at yarn school in the fall. I spun 4.2oz of raw gray alpaca that I bought and carded at yarn school. Its not too much longer until I’m back at yarn school once again, so it seemed only appropriate that I finally start using some of my stockpiled fiber (eep). I also spun up 4oz of superwash merino & firestar that arrived in the mail this week. I can’t help but love sparkle!! I also (also, also, also!) finished spinning the 12oz. of Juliespins in a superwash merino that I had started last week. Total weight – in the realm of 20oz, which is over a pound of fiber!

The one thing I adore about crafting is that there is physical proof at the end as a reminder of what you’ve done/accomplish/created. I spend so much of my life in spreadsheets or concepts that its really easy to forget how much I actually do. Crafting is a great reminder for me.

Over the last few months as I’ve gotten more confident in my spinning I’ve started doing a lot more 2 & chain plying. Chain plying is pretty awesome because you use exactly as much yarn as you have. However, I like the random-ness of fractally spun 2-ply yarn. I love the way the colours blend and separate. However, I’m not very good at matching the exact yardage on both bobbins and so always end up with a little bit leftover.

I’ve been chain plying these leftovers and sticking the little mini skeins into an old glass jar that I have. Its more than half full! (excuse the washed out feeling – it’s still early early and I’m no camera whiz).

From the other side.

I think that these little skeins are perfect to add a little texture to a rug hooking project. I spoke with my friend Maurie (who runs the rug hooking workshops at the Knit Cafe and she agreed. I think we’re going to try selling these at the next workshop in May and I may reach out to the greater rug hooking community in Toronto.