Te Henga Sandstone blankets

When I damaged my leg three weeks and five days ago I had only 65 cm to weave on this run of blankets.  I probably didn't do myself any favours but when I started to improve I slowly wove a few centimetres a day until they were finished.  I could then twiddle the tassels while I had my leg out of action.

 However, I was able to stand and wind warps and work at the dye pot and today we are slowly getting into business.  Less than 1 metre woven and I could feel muscles talking to me so I quit on this Rata warp.

Out of Left Field

Well that came out of left field and whammed my right leg!  No weaving for two and a half weeks and I'm here looking at the looms and thinking I should, no don't yet!  Doc said sciatica, have some pain killers.  They didn't work, just made my poor old brain turn to jelly.  So stopped taking them so I could at least think.  Pete drove me to Waihi for a scheduled mammogram (clear) and fluke would have it we parked outside the acupuncturist.  I said I'll go get my picture taken you make me an appointment.  Several appointments later no improvement so then tried a friend who does a muscle release technique and it seems to be slowly working.  In the meantime I did some asking of Doctor Google, which I do think can be a very dangerous practice without professional advice, and I think it is probably piriformis syndrome which also affects the sciatic nerve.  I do not like being incapacitated.  I don't.  It has ground me to a stand still.

As Laura Fry said in her blog post this morning

"One of the things about being self-employed is that...you, yourself, get to do the work.  No minions.  Just you.  If you don't do it, it doesn't get done."

So to all those waiting for blankets, wall art, scarves etc my apologies, I'll get to it as soon as I can.

Art Market

From time to time I have mentioned the Art Market at the Cargo Shed in Tauranga.  This was a group of 8 permanent stall holders and 50 sell on behalf artists.  A lot of politics has happened during the winter months and the Art Market is no longer.  Our group of 9 fibre artists took turns to man the stall so about once a week through the summer and cruise ship season and about once a month in the winter when we were open weekends only.  For me to get there it was nearly an hours drive each way on one of the most dangerous roads in NZ but I loved the company and meeting new people.  One of my original reasons for joining was to get my confidence in driving back which happened in spades on that road!

Fluffies

Last school holidays my 5 1/2 year old grandson came to stay with us for the first time on his own.  We drove to Meremere and his mum brought him there and after lunch and a play we transferred bike and helmet and swimming noodle and toothbrush to our car and headed home.  I think he had a wonderful time riding the bike around the local walking tracks and swimming in the Athenree hot pools.  He kept telling me stories about competitions where he won and races at school where he won.  One day he told me he and a friend had had a race at school and he won so to suggest there could be enjoyment in the run without the win, I said did you enjoy the feel of the wind on your face and the wind blowing your hair back.  Oh yes GranD, that's how I get wind to make my farts.

Just thought I'd share that as Meg sent me this picture this morning of a halloween costume.  I laughed so much I couldn't drink my coffee.

www.facebook.com/plumbmusic/photos/a.166959758536.113654.18586648536/10154485124633537/?type=3&theaterwww.facebook.com/plumbmusic/photos/a.166959758536.113654.18586648536/10154485124633537/?type=3&theater

That's enough nonsense for one day.

Knitwear catch up

A jumper for my daughter.  

This jumper crops up on Pinterest from time to time, sometimes a jumper sometimes a jacket.  I thought it the most beautiful lace I'd seen in a long time and had to try it.

The pattern comes in one size (small) so I did some adjustments to get extra width.

We decided to go with the scoop hemline and I knitted to the armhole of the back and the bottom of the scoop came to just below daughter's waist which would mean the front, which was straight across would be somewhat higher, so back to drawing board.  Finished the back at the end of LAST winter, took one look at it and threw it aside carefully placed it back in the knitting bag.  I thought the shape was completely unworkable.  A trip to stay with daughter prompted me to take another look,  I knitted front and sleeves on  the knitting machine, did some stitching and pinning and tried it on her.  We both decided it looked pretty good but would be better with a longer scooped front hem to match the back.  Back home to the machine and now it is smashing.  

If you want to play this is where I printed the pattern from:

http://liuxiaoben1.blog.163.com/blog/static/5752898220139299424961/

And this is what I knitted from the replaced front, all except the hem and sleeves.

Another pattern from the internet, Little Miss Myra's Sweater, designed by Lara Simonson of Knot Enuf Knitting.  The pattern comes in sizes 3 months to 10 years.  This is knitted in size 4 years but about 2 inches longer in length.

You may recall this blanket from last year called Kea which I gave my grandson at Christmas time.  

In one stripe there were 10 threads of velour and with use through this winter they have riggled out to huge loops.

I've brought it home and replaced them with wool.  I tied a weavers knot and in stages of about 50 cm pulled the new threads through.  Its looking pretty good now.

The colours were very attractive and I'm reluctant to throw them out.

This has happened to me before using velour, even in crochet; it riggles and moves.  I don't know how other folks weave successful velour scarves etc.  Maybe the sett has to be a lot closer than normal.

Anawhata blankets Series #5

Anawhata Beach (photo from Trip Advisor)

Peaceful Anawhata Beach is located on Auckland's west coast, quiet because its less accessible with a 2 kilometre walk from the car park to the beach.  (Easy going down, not so much fun coming up again.)
This beach has a soft spot in my heart because 43 years ago my husband proposed to me there.

Warp threads dyed while chained.

Balls of fluffy mohair become skeins

and after the dye pot, three different greens.

Available at Pauanesia Store.

Masala Ruana

I thought I'd reduce some of my stash by weaving yardage and create product for an event happening March next year.  This 4.6metre warp used 10 different yarns;  there is wool, mohair, ribbon, a gold lurex ribbon which looks elegant and a mohair that had fringed glitter in it.  This wove into the cloth and wasn't too in your face but after fulling the glitter popped up and looked like a Christmas tree so

over morning coffee, or two, I picked as many bits of glitter out as I could.  No way could I get them all but it now looks pretty good.

We used to call this garment a ruana but think it might now fall into the cape category.

Jenny's Kingsize Kingfisher blanket

To my shame this large Kotare blanket was ordered a year ago but what with other commitments and travelling and summer (who needs mohair blankets in the heat) and knowing it would be a pig to alter the loom it just got neglected.

Sure hope it was worth the wait.

Shibori scarf

You may remember away back I had the loom threaded for these kitchen towels

and these scarves.

Yes, one warp gets tied to the next and I got to thinking "why can't I make this work for shibori, both warp and weft resists.

And then Rene came home with a gorgeous scarf (and she might tell us who wove it) and I thought warp and weft resist but in blocks; so much fun!

It will be on display as part of the Creative Fibre Tauranga Exhibition opening at the Tauranga Racecourse on Friday 29 July.  And when I see it there I'll be able to tell you what I called it as I can't remember.