Dear Weavers
What happens when you have fun? The time goes by really, really fast! It is somehow the wrong way around. When you have fun, the time should go really, really slow. That way one could enjoy it more. But no, it goes really, really fast and in a blink of the eye it is a memory. That is how I feel at the moment. I have lots of good news for you! Let's start with the best news first:
My new weaving studio is finished and all three looms have been moved! Yes it's true! Unbelievably exciting. I still can't believe this space all belongs to me alone. My new happy place!! Here is the first sneak peak...
There are still couple of small things that need to happen like the new shelves for my yarn stock, my office still has to be moved, air-condition installed and sewing nook to be established. But the main thing has happened, the looms have been taken apart, carried up the hill to the studio and reassembled. They are all obviously "naked" and in desperate need for a warp! This will be my work for the next couple of weeks. All three looms need to have a warp on, otherwise I am not happy. Yes I know, you can only weave on one loom at the time, but it is just nice to have a choice to where you would like to weave. Don't you think so?
For the next news I would like to introduce to you the new cotton NeC 20/2. It is a very fine and soft cotton yarn for delicate weaving. Since UKI doesn't produce 20/2 cotton any more I had to look for a new supplier of this versatile yarn. This new cotton yarn comes from Switzerland and is available in white and black. Even when you touch the bobbin, it feels soft and cuddly. Weaving with it is a pleasure. I just recently used it for some samples and a t-towel. Very easy to use, no problem and no broken ends at all. I used it with a sett of 40epi or 16epcm. The cotton 20/2 is so fine that it is suitable for many things especially for producing fabric for clothing. For example vests, pants or skirts, shirts or even a scarf. But the cotton 20/2 is also good for kitchenware like placemats, t-towels, dishtowels, dish cloth or napkins. In the photo at the top of this blog post you can see bookmarks made with cotton 20/2.
Danish dance group: The red fabric was woven by me with cotton 20/2 in the warp
This crepe scarf has crammed and spaced warp with cotton 20/2
T-towel in Bumberet pattern
Stitched Double weave with cotton 20/2
I am sure there are many, many more examples for this beautiful yarn. It is available at www.bbyarn.com on 100g bobbins for $21.90. For more information click on any of the photos above to get straight to the right page.
In the middle of October about half of the weavers from last years weaving seminar met up in Hervey Bay for a relaxing reunion. Lidia from the Hervey Bay spinners, weavers and fibre artists group hosted a lovely meeting with very yummy morning tea on Saturday morning. We had time to exchange and inspire each other with things we have done since the workshop. It was amazing to see what creations have been produced with Deflected Double Weave. It made me feel really happy to see so many tackle DDW. Even weavers who mentioned never to weave DDW again, picked it up and produced something amazing. After the meeting we visited the Hervey Bay regional gallery to find new inspiration and then we had lunch at the beach. In the afternoon Lidia invited a couple of us to her home to inspect her brand new computerised Toika extension to her Glimakra loom. Very impressive to watch and we all left with new loom envy... The evening was spent at the harbour restaurant with good food and a glass of wine.
In the morning we were surprised by Sue who organised a fantastic pink breakfast for breast cancer awareness. With the stomach full of sweets, we said goodbye and only Joy and I drove a little bit further north to Childers where we visited Wagtail Yarns and their Angora goats. I will write about Wagtail yarns in another future blog post, because what I've discovered there will fill another couple of pages. Very exciting. Overall this weekend was fulfilled with lots of laughter and each others inspiration. And for once we all had time to just chat weaving all day. Nowhere to run to, just time to enjoy each others companies, make future plans and collect new ideas. We should do this again and in a new place to discover! Who is willing to host us next time?
At the beginning of November I was invited by the spinners & weavers group in Gympie to their picnic day. What a lovely day that was! The day was filled with lots of chats with other weavers and crafters, making new contacts, excellent food, fantastic show & tell and a very exquisite trivia. With another blink of an eye the day was gone. See what I mean, why does time fly when you have fun? It really should be the other way around. And so it takes me back to the beginning or to the end of this blog post.
What have you been up to? Tell me your news, write a comment on this blog post or on BB Yarn Supply's facebook page.
Take care and happy weaving
Ursula
