Fiber Arts Friday: Too Many Projects?

The other day, Hubba said to me.... "So you have 6 knitting projects in work.  How do you decide which one to work on?"

I laughed and pulled each one out and told him about the purpose/benefit/challenge of each project... and then talked about a few of the others that are in the planning or waiting stage.

So yes, there are six active projects, and many more in the queue.  

• Some are simple so I can work on them when my brain is tired (which is most of the time) or when I only have a few minutes available.
• Some are small so I can work on them when I'm on the road, in a waiting situation, or when it's hot outside.
• Some are much larger so they provide warmth while working on them.
• Some are about commemorating something.
• Some are about doing something for someone else and therefore have a rough deadline.
• Some are about learning new skills or achieving a challenge.
• Some are crochet, or spinning, or weaving, so they use my hands/arms/body differently than knitting.
• Some have periods of intense focus, so they release my brain of clutter.
• Some are meditative, which allows my brain to rest, which then often leads to forming solutions to un-related, complex problems.

I choose which to work on based on my physical needs, personal goals, and time available in the moment.

This is a visual manifestation of how my brain works...  I am always thinking about and planning much more than what is physically in front of me.  Which means my ToDo List is always way too long.

My current Day Job has these benefits as well, but this has not been true for most of my career.  So making has been a way for me to be myself when the Day Job did not allow or value it... and all of it was put on hold while we were moving recently.

This whole conversation was sort of mind-blowing for Hubba.  He chooses a project and works on it 100% until it's complete, with little room for other things.

We know this about him.  We call it All-or-Nothing or All-in.  ;-)  But I think this is the first time he truly understood how my wiring works.

All that being said, I think 3-ish active projects is the sweet spot for me.  The good news is that most of these are past the half-way point, so this number should be coming down in the next few months.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Colorado Weavers' Day, 2022

Colorado Weavers' Day is an every-other-year conference.  It is typically held the first weekend of May, and was founded in 2008.  I learned about it a few years ago, and this was the first time I was able to attend.

Last week, it was hosted by the Handweaver's Guild of Boulder.  The next event, in 2024, will be hosted by the Rocky Mountain Weaver's Guild.

There were four primary speakers, all very good.  As well as breakout sessions and introductions from each of the Guilds in Colorado.

It was quite interesting to learn more about the Guilds.  Some have as few as four members, where others are as large as a few hundred.  All are active in a variety of ways.

I'm thankful that this year was set up to be a virtual event.  As such, attendees came from as far away as Hawaii, Philadelphia, Ontario Canada, and England.

It was quite special for me to be able to spend an entire day dedicated to weaving.... listening to and talking with weavers: specifically about the other things that surround weaving, not just the weaving itself.  It was truly a wonderful event... and now that we're starting to feel settled in our new place, I've started to plan my next weaving project.  I am feeling quite happy.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Creative Urge

It always seems to hit me this time of year, but especially right now.... I feel a deep need to create, and I haven't been.

As we start to approach the end of our moving process, I hope to start to have time and head-space available for creating.

Creating, as in turning ideas into reality.  Not just making... food or following patterns designed by others... which is happening, though limited and enjoyable too.

I finished knitting a simple hat last weekend.  In normal times, this would have been a 2-3 week project, but this one took ~3 months.  I'm grateful to have a little winter remaining to use it.

Finishing this hat allowed me to begin working on my Save Our Sheep Sweater with the handspun SE2SE yarn I've made over the last few years.

I am working my Day Job out of my new Studio/Office space and things are starting to have their place.  But my loom is still in pieces...

My wheels have not been touched in so long, that I had to dust them the other day and my little looms are calling to me too...

The shelves have arrived, but need to be assembled.

Then a bit more organizing... and then hopefully, I can start working on the many ideas that have been stacking up.

Happy (though a bit melancholy) Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: New Loom, Tapestry

 As I mentioned recently, I've started to have creative sparks again.

I had a clear vision for a woven piece earlier this year, made quick notes of what the final version should look like, then set out to figure out how to make it happen.

There were lots of thoughts... weaving it in an old picture frame, on my portable 4-shaft loom, or on my much larger floor loom... But nothing was quite feeling right.  So I started researching Tapestry Looms and decided to go with Mirrix because it is adjustable, would stand on it's own, and has great reviews.

It arrived on a rainy Tuesday while we were out of the house.... fortunately the box was only wet on the outside when we got home.

Now to learn how to use this baby.  :-)

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Looms, part 3

My new Portable Loom arrived last weekend!

I meant to take photos of the unpacking process, but sometimes excitement gets in the way... She was packed extremely well and arrived safely.  :-)

As with anything that requires shipping, assembly is also required.  So I was especially delighted to find a proper Phillip's Screwdriver included... As a farmer and engineer, I have a collection of proper tools, but nothing is more disappointing than finding those tiny, nearly-useless Allen wrenches in the box...  So with a proper Phillip's Screwdriver as well as proper Phillip's screws..... I was pretty happy.

The heddles took some time to put on the frames.... especially with Wonton holding them down for me (one of the last things we did together).

But I got the 4 harnesses loaded up with heddles and back into the castle.  whew.

It also took some time to realize I had the base upside down.  But once I got that figured out, I was able to connect the restraints, break, and castle.

She is collapsible!!  Which is the primary reason I wanted a smaller jack loom...

... and everything is functional!

LeClerc does make a stand with foot pedals.  I wasn't sure if I wanted it yet, so she will be resting on a card table for now.

The next step is to learn how to warp her and figure out why I have one extra warping rod.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!  :-)

Fiber Arts Friday: Looms part 2

Since deciding to add a portable loom to my tool set, I've been thinking about what to make first.

Obviously the first step is setting it up (just as soon as she arrives), but then the next first step is warping the first project, which needs some thought.... the final project determines the fabric construction, which determines the length and pattern of the warp.

Since I haven't done much weaving in quite some time, I need this project to focus on consistent beater tension and selvedges.

I don't really need any hand towels at the moment.  However they would be a perfect first project.... small and useful, but I don't have any cotton on hand anyway.  :-/

I do want to make a towel for my yoga practice, but that requires the cotton that I don't have... and determining cotton gauge is a little more difficult than wool or alpaca.  I have a specific idea for what this finished project looks like.  So this one needs some work before I can order the cotton.

I have a spool of Rayon that I bought years ago from a weaver studio sale in Albuquerque.... so I would like to use this as the warp of whatever the first project is.

I could use super-wash wool for the weft of a yoga towel, but again I don't have much and most of what I do have is now in my Scrappy Palindrome or planned for socks.

So I may start with a simple throw or scarf... I already have lots of scarves and small blankets, but they are something that I enjoy using and mixing up a bit.... so this might be my first project.

I need to think more.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Cold and Wet Weekend

Last weekend was cold and wet.

Our yard, pasture and garden are looking great from all of the water.

With the day job finally replaced, I felt free to spend the time with yarn and tea.  I started a pair of socks, moved a hat into a more challenging phase and planned my next weaving project.  It was delightfully relaxing.

I also worked on my Alpaca Cape which is still very simple, but has gotten quite large.  The socks are small, easily portable and to the point of being a good Knit Night project.  The hat is borderline for conversational knitting, so I think it will stay home for a while.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday.

Fiber Arts Friday: Weaving Again

My Loom, she is warped!

I set up a simple plain weave structure using commercial yarns that have been in my stash for a while.

This project is about working through the process.  I have no real attachment to the outcome, other than improved technique as I go.

Obviously I prefer to do good work, but it's been a long time since I sat at a loom.  So I know this one will not be worthy of my ultimate standards.  It's a bit freeing starting out knowing that this one is going to be ugly.  :-)

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Setting Up My Loom

I decided that finishing the basement was no longer a pre-requisite.

I pulled all of the pieces out and laid them in the correct configuration then enlisted Hubba's help in putting her together.

I am the third owner of this 12 Harness LeClerc Loom and I am so happy to have her together again.

I've been studying my warping instructions and have measured out the warp for a very simple project.  I'm so excited to weave again.  :-)

Happy Fiber Arts Friday! 

Fiber Arts Friday: County Fair

Miss A, her family and I did a little reconnaissance at the local county fair last weekend.

Neither one of us have ever entered an alpaca performance show, so we wanted to get a better idea of what she would be asked to do at the November show.

I concede that animal shows can be quite boring to watch unless you happen to be very interested in what's going on.

Even if you're very interested in what's going on, when you're eight years old they still get boring.  So Miss A and her family went home after a couple of hours.  ;-)

That being said, we learned a lot.

First there was a halter show.  This is where the competition is mostly about the breeding.  But since this was a 4H Performance Show, the competition was more about how well the kids handled their alpacas.  This is really boring, unless you happen to be a breeder or a huge fan of one of the kiddos presenting or a huge fan of the animal being shown.

Setting up for a Youth Performance Class

Then there were the obstacle courses with four levels of difficulty.  This is what we were interested in.  A course is set up and the handlers are judged on how well they get the alpaca to navigate the obstacles.  We took notes and planned ways to practice the different elements at home.

There was also a costume contest.  The kids dress themselves and their alpacas up and write a short story about the characters they are playing.  I always thought this was kind of silly.  But realizing what it must take to put a dress and hat on an alpaca leaves me impressed with the relationship built between those kids and their alpacas.

After the alpaca show, I happened upon a Tractor Parade.

Then I went in search of the Fibery Fair Entries.

I found a few weavings...

and a few handspun yarns...

But clearly, the Quilters are in full-force here in Northern Colorado.

I remember going to a quilting circle with my mom when I was very small.  It seemed like those ladies were having fun and I think they were all working on the same quilt at the same time.

I've never tried quilting myself, but I have always admired them greatly.

I hope you're having a terrific Fiber Arts Friday.  Be sure to visit everyone over at Wisdom Begins in Wonder to see some beautiful work.