TA-DA! I think it turned out well and fits me, too! I’m going to like wearing this one. So let me tell you… when you start yours, get a sewing pattern that fits you well or cut one from a garment that fits and use it as a guide. Lay your blocks out on it and make them to fit. Don’t be afraid to cut if you need to. Just remember to stay stitch. I recommend you do that before cutting but it’s your call. I had to cut at the shoulders as the blocks assembled into a straight shoulder, and tho my shoulders are pretty flat, they were not that flat and it caused some buckling in the arm hole.
The trim is k1 p1 ribbing, but could also be crocheted. I’m not sure, but I think you could get by without either if you lined it. I thought about lining this one, but I think it would be too heavy if I did so will just leave it as is. I did not plan buttonholes because I thought it might be a bit snug there and so was intending a tie but it turned out right for fastening so just used large snaps.
This was all woven on the 7″ tumbling block loom. If you are a small person you might be better using the smaller one. It would allow for more options in sizing.
Archive | January 2008
The side view
Seems okay. π
The Back view
Here it is from the back. I like the points.
Etsy
Had a couple of singular looms that I wanted to sell so i signed up for an Etsy account. In case you aren’t familiar with this, it’s an on-line shopping center for hand crafts and art. I listed the two looms yesterday, a 14″ diamond and a 7″ tumbling block. The diamond has already sold. The TB is one I did ‘art’ on and decorated a bit. I’m impressed with Etsy so far. I think I’ll post some of the other singular looms we have in the shop. These are good looms, just not ones that fit into our regular line up for this or that reason.
It’s snowing again today, heavily, but I am getting tired of snow pictures, aren’t you? It’s lovely in December. By February it’s losing it’s delight quotient! :laugh:
Well, I have some art class homework to finish and am still working diligently on assembling the vest. Hope you have a lovely warm day!
Lion Brand Homespun
This is a little bit I wove using Lion Brand Homespun and the 3.5″ Tumbling Block loom. It looks good. I think I assembled it using embroidery thread. I’m not a fan of Homespun, because of it’s raveling but if you weave in the ends well and maybe use a dab of Frey Check, it should be okay and it does make a nice fabric.
I’m thinking I should have turned this one differently. Can’t remember what I thought was up when I put it together. Would it matter? Are the blocks rising or falling? Or neither! :laugh: A conundrum for you!
New picture.
The new show at the gallery is portraits and figures. I have several portraits and one other figure, but I found a magazine photo of a girl diving for a volleyball and I loved it, so I used that to make this mermaid. There was a big brouhaha over some nudes in one of he galleries last year so Docent Marie told us she wanted nudes so we could get in the paper, too! It sure helps sales! :laugh: Well, my green lady is nude but I doubt she’ll have the same effect! Oh well… I like her! π
I have been working on other projects, tho. I finished weaving the tumbling blocks with the reclaimed yarn and have started assembling it. It’ll take a few days but I’ll post a photo when I get that far. The edging on my Pi shawl progresses at a crawl, but it IS progressing. π
It’s stopped snowing and started raining. whoopee. :plain: Hope you’re staying warm!
The TB purse
I wove this purse with the new 7″ Tumbling Block loom. I used some left-over yarns from my early spinning days that were quite bulky and some rather coarse but dk weight Navajo Churro and used the every other row color weaving. It forms stripes so I had to frog my first assembly as I was not paying attention and had the stripes running randomly, which did not work. The strap I wove with a large yarn needle by running the warp across the 14″ square.
I’m not really talented at Embellishing, but found this pair of amber colored earrings and an old painted Mexican horse key chain that matched the color scheme. I’ll have to find some better way of attaching them, tho as the earring backs are not reliable on this thick yarn and I’ve already lost one back. I think I’ll give the fabric glue a try. Or maybe I’ll get Himself to drill some tiny holes around the metal of the earring and just sew it on. That’d probably be best.
But I like this purse. I think I’ll make it a lining to help keep it clean, and use it myself. π
The New Tumbling Blocks loom!
π These are the new looms. The blanket they lay on was woven with the smaller loom, the 3 1/2″ size. It was easy to make. I used a Caron yarn called Cozi, which may be out of stock. These yarns seems to come and go before you can decide if you like them, I did like this one so hope it’s not gone. It’s a fuzzy yarn, not eyelash, tho. I assembled the blocks with embroidery thread, which is stronger than the yarn for the purpose but disappeared in the ‘fuzz’ and so no seams show. It’s also soft and cuddly!
You can weave this pattern, its often done in bright colors for children and babies, but I also have a purse made with the larger loom. I’ll try to get a good photo of that for the blog soon. Check previous post for what I’m weaving them for now. It’s not just another diamond… this one is unique! We’re only making the 3.5 and 7″ sizes. For more information and pictures, check the web site. (links) The new book is featured there, too.
recyling
Sister spun & dyed this lovely soft cormo which I knitted into a vest for Grandmother. Just this last month I got it out, unknitted it and washed the wool. The vest was too small for me but the yarn was too good to waste so I am weaving it on the new Tumbling Block looms and intend to make myself a vest. I have some novelty yarns that I spun up a long time ago that match this and I think I can make a great vest with the combination. I cut a newsprint pattern from a vest that fits me. I think I have nearly enough blocks woven now that I can start assembling it. I’ll need some half blocks yet, of course. It’s a good way to reuse the yarn and will be a memory of Grandmother, too.
Wanna guess who’s bored with winter?
Yup, she only comes in for dinner or when she finally gives up on a human coming out in the 34 degree day to play ball with her in the frozen mud and ice. And then, anytime she sees me putting on a sweater, her hopes rise again. Nope, only going to the wash room or studio. And the cats live in the studio and they won’t play ball either.
Haven ‘t got up the courage to try to put her on the treadmill with me. I just doubt she’d consider that a good alternative to a good long walk! Well, she walked up to the water tank with Randy yesterday, so that should hold her for awhile. We usually play chase the tennis ball to the mailbox and back… half a city block? but no mail today as we are celebrating Dr. King’s birthday.
Got some more ‘fairy dust’ snow falling just now. So far hasn’t laid down enough to make the old stuff look clean again.
Guess I’ll go back to weaving and laundry. π