Newest weaving project using recycled yarn

Newest weaving project using recycled yarn

It’s pretty quiet on the homefront today.  Andrew is off to his men’s group this morning, so I have the house to myself for a couple of hours.

Got a new project on my rigid heddle loom this week.  I really do like this loom.  It does have its limitations, but as long as I’m willing to work within them, we get along very well.  Of course, I’m always trying to push the envelope a little, so there are times when we don’t see eye to eye!

If I stick to warps that are 2-1/2 to 3 yards long, I run into a lot fewer problems.  I know people put longer warps on their rigid heddle looms, but this seems to work best for me.  This loom is so easy to warp that warping often isn’t really a chore.

This warp is a combination of recycled yarn from two different sweaters.  One is the cotton/ramie yarn that I overdyed a few weeks back.  The other is a slubby cotton/ramie/nylon blend that’s just a little lighter in color.  I’m using two strands of the fine cotton/ramie yarn, and one strand of the slubby yarn for both warp and weft.  Using the yarns together is giving the piece a lot more texture and interest than just using one, so I’m very happy with how this handwoven shawl is coming out.

It’s snowy and blustery today.  The Weather Service started out calling for at least a foot of snow, but they’ve backed off that somewhat, with maybe six inches forecast.  A minor flurry for up here!  The City of Marquette does a great job of keeping the streets plowed, although the roads are probably a little slick.

This is great weather for staying in and weaving, taking apart sweaters, and winding yarn into balls.  It’s also great for making bean or split pea soup and baking muffins.  Somehow I just don’t get into making bread much anymore, but muffins are so quick and easy to do.  And they bake quickly, too.  I’ve been experimenting with using different herbs and spices, and adding stuff like cranberries, blueberries, raisins, or black olives.  It’s a lot of fun, and even the ones don’t quite work are still good.  I haven’t had to throw anything out in the back yard for the birds to eat yet.  Of course, Andrew loves it!

I’ve been experimenting with focaccia bread, too.  Got a recipe off the internet that I’ve only made once, but it was a great success.  I think I’ll made it for lunch today, with some pizza toppings on it this time.  It’s a yeast bread, but it’s very easy and only takes about an hour to do.

Well, I’m off to the kitchen to get my focaccia bread going!

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