Friday, March 28, 2014

Weaving the March scarf

For my March scarf, I had planned to handspin some fiber and use it to weave another evolution-style beauty, but the fiber had a lot of black and grey in it and so does the sky most of the time these days, so I set up the loom with Something Else.

In theory this was a good idea, but on the other hand... this much more colourful yarn (Ember, by Twisted Fiber Art) is fingering weight.

weaving, table loom

And the stuff I planned to weave onto it?  Laceweight cashmere I bought from Viola and then had to double up on my wheel when I realized laceweight is not something I will ever in a million years put onto needles for knitting.  Even doubled, it's still pretty much laceweight, though less like thread than before.

Seriously: after settign up more than enough yardage to make this scarf, I still have 55 grams left.


There is no escape.

Setting up a loom is, I'm finding, the most critical and time-consuming part of the whole process.   Pulling all those threads through the reed is my least favourite part, and there are so very many slots to fill on the size you need for such fine yarn.  GAH.

Ashford Knitter's Loom

But it does get done eventually, and I did have one compelling reason for getting this particular project out of the stash cupboard.

weaving

Can you see this?  Maybe the image is too small - you can click on it if you like, to make it bigger.  What I'd like you to notice is that the Viola (called Sea Storm - so perfect) matches the blue-grey bit of the Ember to perfection.  It is a completely and utterly dreamy colour, and it matches, and both yarns are stupendously soft.

The Ember has been in my stash for years, and I have more of it in a heavier weight which will be ideal for making a matching hat.  So: with that in mind - hardship in the making, plus colours I like, you can imagine how I felt when I got about here...

weaving

... and Pete wandered past, stopped short, and said Hey! I'd wear that scarf.

Seriously.  The man who made me promise I'd stop asking to make him anything, because he is not a handmade kind of guy and was tired of saying No Thank You all the time.  This is the man who wants the scarf I want for myself.

Sigh.  You know I'm going to let him wear it, too.

(sometimes.)

Okay: that's me for the week.  Have a wonderful weekend and I will see you again on Monday!

6 comments:

Leslie said...

it's a beauty!

Mary Keenan said...

Thanks Leslie!

Jezz said...

Can't wait to see the finished scarf! Will Pete model for a photo?

Mary Keenan said...

Heh heh - can't imagine Pete agreeing to model for me for reals, no ;^) He did let me use the back of his head for the Railyard Scarf though!

Jezz said...

Well I had to go look for your Railyard Scarf and Pete's modeling--Pete has a nice ear! :)

Mary Keenan said...

A nice ear Jezz, and nice white hair that I gave him (it was black when we met!)