Class on Saturday!!!

Heading to Yarn Circle in Murphy, NC to take a class from Geri Forkner on Nuno Felting!!!  Can't wait, this is going to be fun - will post pictures of class if possible but definitely will post pictures of the bag I will be making!!!

Weaving!

 I love to weave!  Can't help it - I love to create fabric, rugs, towels & even washcloths!  I really love the new to me Harrisville Loom! A rug made from t-shirts and mixed warp threads (using up the leftover threads)

Washcloths wove on a Cricket Rigid Heddle Loom using Peaches & Cream cotton yarn and a knitting needle to raise the wept threads so I would get the texture of a piled washcloth.

I took a class  and did a pink plaid piece similar to Saori Weaving (on right)!  Really frees you up to use any yarn and you just go with it.    I went home on the first day and warped up for the next weaving (on left) - just picked threads I liked and warped up  - did not worry about what the fiber was, just what I liked.  No plan in the weaving of colors so I did not have to keep up the plaids.  Love it - was going to cut and make a vest & possibly a messenger bag but so far I have only used it as a shaw. The pink Saori Weaving is a wall hanging now. I might cut one of them when the time is right...lol

Portable Bobbin Winder

Everytime I need to wind a bobbin for my loom shuttle, I have to try to find the drill to do it or wind it my hand (which takes forever!)  The drill works great but since I don't get to work very often, I hate to keep my husband's drill all the time.

I have been searching for a way to have a portable, small way to do this without having to spend $100 or more for a bobbin winder.  I tried a couple different things that worked but still not what I wanted - fast and smooth.

On Ravelry, I found a post about someone using a small battery operated smoothie hand blender.  I had one in a drawer (aren't junk drawers - great!).  I had had this blender for about 10 years - it had the same batteries in it that I put in orginally.  Thankgoodness they had not leaked but they actually stilled worked.

I had to cut the curved ends off the ends so they would fit in the middle of the bobbin.  The bobbin fit snugly on the wands - started the chenille yarn - and WOW, I worked!  Fast, smooth - all the things I needed.

And I still have one wand intacked - so I can still use it in a protein shake if I wanted to!

It has a storage case and be stored in a little drawer by my chair - I can easily put it in my bag to carry it with my rigid heddle if I want to take it with me. 

I will still use the drill when I am working on my big loom but this is perfect to be able to wind a bobbin fast for the rigid heddle anywhere I am working on it.  This is perfect for any portable loom!